Types of Emphysema

There are two main types of emphysema:

• Centriacinar (centrilobular) where the damage mainly occurs around the respiratory bronchioles); affecting the upper parts of the lungs occurring in coal-miners and smokers.
• Panacinar (panlobular) where tissue loss and damage occurs throughout the acinus particularly affecting the lower half of the lungs. It may occur with ageing to a mild degree and the severe form is associated with alpha1- antitrypsin deficiency.

Other types of Emphysema:

• Paraseptal, where bullae occur on the lung edges, rupture of these could cause a pneumothorax.
• Irregular e.g. related to scarring, such as with tuberculosis.