giant bullous emphysema; Vanishing lung syndrome

Epidemiology

• most commonly occurs in young men with short history of smoking

Pathology

• upper-lobe predominant emphysema
• air spaces in the lung with < 1 mm wall occupying > 1/3 of hemithorax

Radiology

• chest X-ray & chest CT
  • paraseptal, asymmetric, upper-lobe prodominant giant bullae

Differential diagnosis

• alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
  • lower lobe bullous emphysema
• intravenous or inhaled drug abuse
• congenital lung disorders
  • congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation
    • lower lobe bullous emphysema

More general terms

• bullous lung disease
• pulmonary emphysema