Lung - Metaplasia, Goblet Cell


comment:
There has been much debate regarding the proper term for this lesion (metaplasia vs. hyperplasia), but since goblet cells are not normally present in the epithelium of the smaller airways and are not normally visible in the upper airways, it should be diagnosed as goblet cell metaplasia in NTP studies. Rats and mice have very low numbers of goblet (mucous) cells in their lungs. Under normal conditions, <1-2% of the epithelial cells of the mainstem bronchi, primary bronchi, and lobar bronchi (up to approximately the sixth-generation airway) are goblet cells. No goblet cells have been identified in the segmental bronchi (generations 7-11) or in the terminal bronchioles.Goblet cell metaplasia is characterized by the presence of goblet cells (above the normal number; see above) in the epithelium lining the bronchi or bronchioles ( Figure 1




recommendation:
The preferred terminology for this lesion is Lung - Metaplasia, Goblet cell. This lesion should be recorded and graded when present. The location of the metaplasia (i.e., bronchus or bronchiole) should be indicated in the diagnosis as a site modifier. If the lesion is present in more than one location, the site modifier may be omitted and the locations described in the pathology narrative. Associated lesions, such as inflammation and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia, should be diagnosed and graded separately.references:
Boorman GA, Eustis SL. 1990. Lung. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat: Reference and Atlas (Boorman GA, Eustis SL, Elwell MR, Montgomery CA, MacKenzie WF, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 339-367.
Dixon D, Herbert RA, Sills RC, Boorman GA. 1999. Lungs, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Pathology of the Mouse: Reference and Atlas (Maronpot RR, Boorman GA, Gaul BW, eds). Cache River Press, Vienna, IL, 293-332.
Mariassy AT. 1992. Epithelial cells of the trachea and bronchi. In: Treatise on Pulmonary Toxicology: Comparative Biology of the Normal Lung, Vol 1 (Parent RA, ed). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 63-76.
Plopper CG, Hyde DM. 1992. Epithelial cells of bronchioles. In: Treatise on Pulmonary Toxicology: Comparative Biology of the Normal Lung, Vol 1 (Parent RA, ed). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 85-92.
Renne, R, Brix A, Harkema J, Herbert R, Kittle B, Lewis D, March T, Nagano K, Pino M, Rittinghausen S, Rosenbruch M, Tellier P, Wohrmann T. 2009. Proliferative and nonproliferative lesions of the rat and mouse respiratory tract. Toxicol Pathol 37(suppl):5S-73S. Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20032296
Web page last updated on: December 07, 2015