What type of cells predominantly make up lung abscesses?

Lung abscesses are primarily associated with a localized accumulation of pus, which typically contains a significant number of segmented neutrophils. These cells are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune response to infections, particularly bacterial infections. When an area of the lung becomes infected, often leading to necrosis, the body responds by sending neutrophils to the site of infection to engulf and destroy the invading pathogens.

The presence of neutrophils is indicative of acute inflammation, which is a hallmark of lung abscess formation. As the infection progresses, the neutrophils die after completing their function, contributing to the formation of pus within the abscess. Although macrophages also play a role in the immune response and can be found in abscesses, they are typically more prominent in the later stages of inflammation and in chronic infections. The role of lymphocytes is more associated with chronic inflammatory processes rather than the acute phase seen in lung abscesses, and red blood cells would not be a predominant feature within an abscess itself.