Pulmonary emphysema
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

Emphysema is a chronic medical condition. While pharmacologic and lifestyle changes may improve symptoms, in general, patients have a gradual increase in symptoms and burden of disease with time. The primary cause is smoking and/or inhalation of other pollutants. Pulmonary emphysema can also be secondary to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which leads to unopposed elastase activity in the lung. Treatments include lifestyle changes, supplemental oxygen, medications, and possibly surgery.
Codes
ICD10CM:J43.9 – Emphysema, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
87433001 – Pulmonary emphysema
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Chronic obstructive asthma
- Chronic bronchitis – patients will have normal spirometry findings
- Neoplastic process of the lung parenchyma (see lung cancer)
- Congestive heart failure
- Pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Empyema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Tuberculosis
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:05/07/2019
Last Updated:05/12/2019
Last Updated:05/12/2019
Pulmonary emphysema
