Types of Emphysema

The term emphysema means swelling and is derived from the Greek work emhysa. Emphysema is classified as primary and secondary in a general sense. More commonly, it is classified according to location. It is further subdivided into panacinary or panlobular and centroacinary and centrilobular. Panacinar emphysema affects the lower lobes, specifically the basal segments as also the anterior margins of human lungs. Centriacinar emphysema occurs in the upper lobes of the lungs. There are other types of emphysema too such as distal acinar and irregular. Then there is the special type termed congenital lobar emphysema.