When it first develops, emphysema, one of a group of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is usually asymptomatic. As the illness progresses, however, it causes ...

Emphysema is not cancer. While emphysema and lung cancer are serious respiratory conditions, they are distinct conditions with different causes, treatments, and outcomes. However, the former can ...

Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD Panlobular emphysema (PLE) is a type of emphysema that affects the whole acinus—the ...

The inflamed alveoli fill with pus, which makes it hard to breathe. Emphysema is a chronic, or long-term lung disease. It usually develops in people with a long history of smoking. People with ...