This results when the blood supply to a portion of the lung is blocked and the most common cause is pulmonary embolus.
Other conditions that cause pulmonary infarction include cancers, autoimmune diseases like lupus, infections, sickle cell disease, infiltrative lung diseases such as amyloidosis, or embolization of air or other materials from an intravenous catheter.
Smokers and intravenous drug abusers are particularly prone to develop pulmonary infarctions.
As lung tissue has duel blood supply (pulmonary artery & bronchial artery), large infarctions are relatively uncommon and this is often seen in individuals with compromised lung functions as in COPDs or with chronic heart failure.
While small pulmonary infarctions usually have no long-term consequences, large infarctions can cause enough lung damage and produce chronic symptoms, and may even be fatal.
a. Specimen of lung
b. Cut surface shows a well demarcated wedge shaped reddish brown area of infarct with base towards periphery and apex- towards the centre