[[File:Histopathology of pulmonary congestion and siderophages.jpg|thumb|220px|'''Siderophages'''{{Siderophage note 1}} (one indicated by white arrow), indicating chronic left heart failure. Also pulmonary '''congestion''' and '''lymphocytes''', consistent with acute or chronic heart failure.]]
{{Main lung microscopic evaluation}}
Look for the most common pathologic lung findings:<ref name="TiwanaNibhoria2014">'''India''': {{cite journal|last1=Tiwana|first1=Kanwardeep Kaur|last2=Nibhoria|first2=Sarita|last3=Gupta|first3=Manvi|last4=Yadav|first4=Ashish|title=Histopathological Spectrum in Lung Autopsies- A 50 Case Study|journal=Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology|volume=8|issue=2|year=2014|pages=172|issn=0973-9122|doi=10.5958/0973-9130.2014.00709.9}}</ref><ref>'''United States''': {{cite web|url=https://washingtonforensicsservices.com/pulmonary-lung-conditions-found-at-autopsy/|title=Pulmonary Lung Conditions Found at Autopsy|author=Dr. Stanley Adams|website=Washington Forensic Services|accessdate=2019-12-20}}</ref>
*'''Edema and congestion''' (often together), indicating left sided heart failure:
:*'''Acute''' congestion manifests as alveolar capillaries being engorged with blood, as well as associated alveolar septal edema and/or focal intra-alveolar hemorrhage.<ref name=humpath>{{cite web|url=http://humpath.com/spip.php?article7894|title=Congestion|website=Humpath|date=2005-12-19}}</ref>
:*'''Chronic''' congestion manifests as thickened and fibrotic septa, and alveolar spaces containing numerous siderophages{{Siderophage note 2}}.<ref name=humpath/>
*'''Inflammatory''' cells, where a mild to moderate lymphocytic infiltrate is consistent with with heart failure, while neutrophils indicate pneumonia.
*'''Mycobacteria''' in regions of the world with substantial prevalence
*'''Carcinoma'''
*'''Aspiration''': Other foreign contents in airways. {{Further|Aspiration in autopsy}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=190>
File:Histopathology of pulmonary edema.jpg|'''Edema'''
File:Histopathology of bronchopneumonia.jpg|'''Bronchopneumonia''', with neutrophils filling a bronchiole.
File:Bronchioloalveolar Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Lung (4669552489).jpg|'''Carcinoma''' (in this case bronchioloalveolar cell adenocarcinoma)
</gallery>
''Additional potential findings are mentioned in the general '''[[Lungs]]''' article.''
''Additional potential findings are mentioned in the general '''[[Lungs]]''' article.''
Report findings and if they are consistent with already known diagnoses.
Example:
File:Histopathology of pulmonary congestion and siderophages.jpg Presence of sideophages indicating chronic heart failure. Prominent vessels, including alveolar capillaries, and a moderate lymphocytic infiltrate, consistent with chronic heart failure or acute decompensation.
↑For a full list of contributors, see article history. Creators of images are attributed at the image description pages, seen by clicking on the images. See Patholines:Authorship for details.
↑Burton, Julian L.; Rutty, Guy N. (2010). The Hospital Autopsy A Manual of Fundamental Autopsy Practice (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0340965146.
↑ 2.02.12.2page 62 in: J. Martin Beattie (2014). Post-Mortem Methods. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107418004.
