Emphysema

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Emphysema
Diagnosis in short

Emphysematous changes. H&E stain.

LM alveoli too large, thin septa (no interstitial thickening)
Subtypes centriacinar (centrilobular) emphysema, panacinar (panlobular) emphysema, distal (paraseptal) acinar emphysema, irregular emphysema
Gross usually upper lobe predominant - blebs, bullae
Site lung

Associated Dx +/-pneumothorax
Syndromes Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, others

Clinical history +/-smoking
Signs barrel chest
Symptoms shortness of breath
Prevalence common
Radiology hyperinflation
Prognosis dependent on underlying cause
Treatment stop smoking, bullectomy

Emphysema is a common medical lung disease strongly associated with smoking.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, abbreviated COPD, redirects here.

General

Causes of emphysema other than smoking:[2]

Pathologic classification

Based on morphology:[3]

  1. Centriacinar (centrilobular) emphysema - associated with heavy smoking.
  2. Panacinar (panlobular) emphysema - associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
  3. Distal (paraseptal) acinar emphysema - associated with spontaneous pneumothorax.
  4. Irregular emphysema - usu. insignificant.
  • Q. Why does smoking lead to centriacinar emphysema?
  • A. The bad stuff from smoking gets enters the acinus at the centre; ergo, this is the location of the most damage.

Gross

  • Holes (blebs, bullae), usually upper lung field predominant.
  • Lungs may overlap the heart.[4]

Notes:

Microscopic

Features:[4]

  • Large alveoli.
  • Thin septa (no interstitial thickening).

Images

See also

References

  1. Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 368. ISBN 978-1416054542.
  2. Lee, P.; Gildea, TR.; Stoller, JK. (Dec 2002). "Emphysema in nonsmokers: alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and other causes.". Cleve Clin J Med 69 (12): 928-9, 933, 936 passim. PMID 12546267.
  3. Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 368. ISBN 978-1416054542.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 369. ISBN 978-1416054542.
  5. URL: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bleb. Accessed on: 3 August 2011.
  6. URL: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bulla. Accessed on: 3 August 2011.