Diffuse alveolar damage

Diffuse alveolar damage
Micrograph showing hyaline membranes, the key histologic feature of diffuse alveolar damage. H&E stain.
Specialty	Respirology

Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) is a histologic term used to describe specific changes that occur to the structure of the lungs during injury or disease. Most often DAD is described in association with the early stages of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).^[1] It is important to note that DAD can be seen in situations other than ARDS (such as acute interstitial pneumonia) and that ARDS can occur without DAD.^[1]