May 24, 2010
Emphysema can be classified into two: primary and secondary color. It
can also be classified by location: panacinary and centroacinary.
Panacinar
emphysema is when the entire respiratory acinus, from respiratory
bronchiole to alveoli is expanded. It is common in the lower lobes like
the basal segments and anterior margins of the lungs.
Centriacinar
emphysema is when the respiratory bronchiole is expanded. The distal
acinus or alveoli are not affected. This occurs commonly in the upper
lobes.
Other types are distal acinar and irregular emphysema.
There is a special type of emphysema called congenital
lobar emphysema or CLE. It's an overexpansion of a pulmonary lobe and
resultant compression of the remaining lobes of the ipsilateral lung and
may also affect the contralateral lung. It may be reversible, but also
life-threatening.
Posted by Annette Vera.