Crumbling of lung tissue is associated with which type of pathological change?

The crumbling of lung tissue is most commonly associated with caseation. This pathological change involves the transformation of tissue into a caseous or cheese-like consistency, which often occurs in response to certain infections, most notably tuberculosis. In tuberculosis, the bacteria cause an inflammatory response that leads to the formation of granulomas, where the center may undergo necrosis and become caseated. This results in the characteristic crumbling of lung tissue, which can significantly impair pulmonary function.

Caseation necrosis is distinct from other forms of necrosis or tissue changes due to its unique appearance and causes. Necrosis generally refers to the death of cells due to injury or disease, which can manifest in various ways without the specific cheese-like appearance. Fibrosis involves the thickening or scarring of tissue, often due to a response to inflammation or injury but does not involve the crumbling characteristic associated with caseation. Hypertrophy refers to the increase in the size of cells or tissues, which does not apply to the crumbling described in the question. Thus, caseation fits the context of crumbling lung tissue accurately.