A Comparative Study of Four Methods of Assessing the Morphologic Changes in Chronic Bronchitis1, 2

Four morphologic methods of assessing chronic bronchitis have been studied in 21 patients. These methods were the Reid index, the Dunnill point count, mucous cell ratio, and mean acinar diameter. The Reid index and Dunnill point count discriminate between patients with bronchitis and patients without bronchitis better than the other methods. The Reid index was quicker, but the Dunnill point count provided valuable information concerning other components of the bronchial wall. These two measurements correlated closely, and there was little advantage between them in separating patients with bronchitis and those without bronchitis. The proportion of mucous to serous acini was not significantly altered in chronic bronchitis. The presence of increased muscle in the airways might indicate chronic bronchitis with unusual degrees of bronchospasm. The mucous glands formed a greater proportion of the bronchial wall in segmental bronchi than in major bronchi, and thus segmental bronchi might be critical regions in c...