pulmonary emphysema

emphysema /em·phy·se·ma/ (em″fĭ-se´mah)

1. a pathologic accumulation of air in tissues or organs.

2. pulmonary e.emphysem´atous

---

atrophic emphysema  senile e.

bullous emphysema  single or multiple large cystic alveolar dilatations of lung tissue.

centriacinar emphysema , centrilobular emphysema focal dilatations of respiratory bronchioles rather than alveoli, throughout the lung among normal lung tissue.

congenital lobar emphysema  overinflation of a lung, usually in early life in one of the upper lobes, with respiratory distress.

hypoplastic emphysema  pulmonary emphysema due to a developmental anomaly, with fewer and abnormally large alveoli.

infantile lobar emphysema  congenital lobar e.

interlobular emphysema  air in the septa between lung lobules.

interstitial emphysema  air in the peribronchial and interstitial tissues of the lungs.

intestinal emphysema  pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis.

mediastinal emphysema  pneumomediastinum.

obstructive emphysema  that associated with partial bronchial obstruction that interferes with exhalation.

panacinar emphysema , panlobular emphysema a type characterized by enlargement of air spaces throughout the acini.

pulmonary emphysema  abnormal increase in size of lung air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles.

pulmonary interstitial emphysema  (PIE) a condition seen mostly in premature infants, in which air leaks from lung alveoli into interstitial spaces, often because of underlying lung disease or use of mechanical ventilation.

senile emphysema  overdistention and stretching of lung tissues due to atrophic changes.

subcutaneous emphysema  air or gas in subcutaneous tissues, usually caused by intrathoracic injury.

surgical emphysema  subcutaneous emphysema following surgery.

vesicular emphysema  panacinar e.

---

pulmonary emphysema

n.

See emphysema.

---

pulmonary emphysema,

a chronic obstructive disease of the lungs, marked by an overdistension of the alveoli and destruction of the supporting alveolar structure. See also emphysema.

---

emphysema

a pathological accumulation of air in tissues. The air may derive from a skin laceration and be drawn in by the movements of muscles. A discontinuity of the tracheal mucosa is a common cause, either by way of laceration or ulceration. Extension from a pulmonary lesion is also common. The syndrome resulting depends on the location of the air. See also pulmonary emphysema and subcutaneous emphysema (below).

---

acute bovine pulmonary emphysema

see atypical interstitial pneumonia.

alveolar emphysema

see pulmonary emphysema (below).

bullous emphysema

emphysema in which bullae form in areas of lung tissue so that these areas do not contribute to respiration.

conjunctival emphysema

may occur after head trauma which permits escape of air from the paranasal sinuses.

fetal emphysema

see emphysematous/putrescent fetus.

generalized emphysema

widespread distribution of air, including subcutaneous tissues, seen with pneumomediastinum.

hypoplastic emphysema

pulmonary emphysema due to a developmental abnormality, resulting in a reduced number of alveoli, which are abnormally large.

interlobular emphysema

accumulation of air in the septa between lobules of the lungs.

interstitial emphysema

presence of air in the peribronchial and interstitial tissues of the lungs.

intestinal emphysema

a condition marked by accumulation of gas under the tunica serosa of the intestine.

lobar emphysema

emphysema involving less than all the lobes of the affected lung.

mediastinal emphysema

see pneumomediastinum.

orbital emphysema

may occur after trauma to the head which permits escape of air from the paranasal sinuses; appears as swelling with crepitus under the conjunctiva or periocular skin.

panacinar emphysema, panlobular emphysema

generalized obstructive emphysema affecting all lung segments, with atrophy and dilatation of the alveoli and destruction of the vascular bed.

pulmonary emphysema

distention of the lung caused by overdistention of alveoli and rupture of alveolar walls (alveolar emphysema) and in some cases escape of air into the interstitial spaces (interstitial emphysema). It is a common pathological finding in many diseases of the lung in all species, but also occurs independently, especially in horses, as a principal lesion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is also a prominent lesion in bovine atypical interstitial pneumonia. It is always secondary to a primary lesion which effectively traps an excessive amount of air in the alveoli. It is characterized clinically by cough, dyspnea, forced expiratory effort and poor work tolerance. A double expiratory effort is a characteristic sign—hence broken wind.

subconjunctival emphysema

occurs with fractures involving the paranasal sinuses.

subcutaneous emphysema

air or gas in the subcutaneous tissues. The characteristic lesion is a soft, mobile swelling which crackles like stiff paper when palpated. There is no pain, nor heat and no ill effects unless the pharyngeal area is sufficiently involved to cause asphyxia.

surgical emphysema

subcutaneous emphysema following operation.

unilateral emphysema

emphysema affecting only one lung, frequently due to congenital defects in circulation.

vesicular emphysema

see panacinar emphysema (above).

---

Patient discussion about pulmonary emphysema.

Q. Does smoking cause emphysema? I know it sounds like a silly question, as you can read everywhere that smoking damages your lung and cause emphysema and lung cancer, but I know a family with 4 brothers,2 of them not smoking and by the age of 50 both of them had emphysema, and another brothers that doesn't stop smoking but is completely healthy. How can than happen?

A. When doctors say that smoking cause emphysema, they doesn't say that you must smoke to get emphysema and that everyone that smokes will eventually develop the disease. You can smoke and never have emphysema, and you can never smoke and have emphysema. The numbers (i.e. the risk) is what makes all the difference...

Q. can you ever get better from emphysema?

A. Emphysema is a chronic state where the lungs pathologically expand and cause them to lose their compliance during breathing. This is not a reversible state, and usually the lung pathological changes will continue to deteriorate if the lungs are exposed to the same pathogens that caused the initial damage (for example- smoking). However, smoking cessation is known to have benefitial results in slowing down the progress of lung disability and somewhat reversing part of the damage by regression of the inflammatory processes that are related to the emphysema.

Q. EMPHYSEMA what type of disease is it?

A. It's a chronic lung disease, characterized by destruction of the walls of the air sacs (alveoli) where the blood exchange oxygen and CO2 with the air. The disease leads to obstruction of the airflow, air trapping inside the lungs, and to many long term complications, and eventually to death. It's caused mainly by smoking.

You may read more here:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/emphysema/DS00296