The relationship between structure and function in asthma has been extensively studied. All the compartments of the airway have been shown to have some structural alterations contributing to functional defects. The structural alterations are thought to be a consequence of the chronic inflammation present in asthmatic airways, leading ultimately to remodeling. The decline of the ventilatory function over time in some asthmatic patients may be a consequence of airway remodeling. In this review, the authors describe the phenomena leading to airway remodeling and discuss the role of inflammatory mediators involved in this process. The structural alterations of the asthmatic airways are presented and the possible correlated functional defects are discussed.

Keywords: bronchii; pathology; asthma.

Primary pulmonary lymphoma is rare. The most common histological type is the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This type of lymphoma has an indolent course and excellent response to therapy. One-third of all cases are diagnosed incidentally. However, due to the rarity of this disease, little is known about its natural history in terms of dissemination and evolution. Herein, we report the unusual case of a 61-year-old man who refused treatment after being diagnosed with bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and died 2 years later from massive lung infiltration without dissemination to other organs.

Keywords: Lung; Autopsy; Lymphoma.