There are different types of emphysema, depending on what part of the respiratory unit is affected.
Criteria for emphysema:
(1) permanent (not completely reversible)
(2) abnormal enlargement of airspaces distal to the terminal bronchiole
(3) associated with destruction and loss of the walls for the affected airspaces
Types:
(1) proximal acinar (centriacinar, centrilobular)
(2) distal acinar (paraseptal, subpleural)
(2) panacinar (panlobular)
|
Type |
Proximal Acinus |
Distal Acinus |
|
proximal acinar |
dilated, may affect terminal bronchioles |
not dilated |
|
distal acinar |
not dilated |
dilated |
|
panacinar |
dilated |
dilated |
|
Type |
Classic Cause |
|
proximal acinar |
cigarette smoking |
|
distal acinar |
uncertain |
|
panacinar |
alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency |
Additional pathologic terms
(1) Irregular emphysema is a form of emphysema there is variable dilatation of the airspaces with fibrosis.
(2) Focal emphysema is a form of centrilobular emphysema.
(3) A bulla is an emphysematous space that is > 1 cm in diameter.
(4) A bleb is an air-filled space within the pleura.
Differential diagnosis:
(1) simple airspace enlargement
Specialty: Pulmonology
ICD-10: ,
