bullous lung disease

Etiology

• small apicial bullae may be present in the lung apex of normal individuals
• congenital
  • Marfan's syndrome
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• acquired
  • burnt out sarcoidosis
  • cadmium exposure
• panlobular emphysema may appear like bullae

Pathology

• lack of air communication with bronchi may cause air trapping

Complications

• pneumothorax
• COPD
• lung abscess
• hemorrhage into bulla
• compression of adjacent normal lung

Management

• surgery may improve lung function by 5-10% in 10-15% of patients

More general terms

• lung disease

More specific terms

• congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation; congenital pulmonary airway malformation
• giant bullous emphysema; Vanishing lung syndrome

Additional terms

• bulla; bleb
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; cutis elastica (EDS)
• emphysema
• Marfan syndrome
• sarcoidosis