Emphysema
Emphysema is a lung disease involving damage to the air sacs
(alveoli). There is progressive destruction of alveoli and the
surrounding tissue that supports the alveoli. With more advanced
disease, large air cysts develop where normal lung tissue used to
be. Air is trapped in the lungs due to lack of supportive tissue
which decreases oxygenation.
Review Date: 9/24/2008
Reviewed By: Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit,
Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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