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| Panacinar Emphysema |
Question:
What is Panacinar Emphysema?
Answer:
When the distribution of the emphysema is limited to the respiratory
bronchioles, as opposed to the more terminal air spaces, the disease
is categorized as centriacinar. When both the proximal and distal air
spaces are involved the disease is categorized as panacinar.
With Panacinar Emphysema the lung is a pale pink, voluminous and
destruction is localized towards the lower lung
Centrilobular: the lung is a deeper pink, less voluminous, and
localized in the upper 2/3s of the lung. There are often areas of
destruction next to normal lung tissue.
The initial symptoms may be
seen as early as the age of 20 years in people who have
inherited one of the two identical genes for this disorder
from each parent (homozygous). The more serious changes that
occur in the lungs and other organs of the body usually
develop by the time the person reaches the age of 30 or 40
years.
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