This photo shows apical bullous disease with relatively little involvement of the rest of the lung. This lung shows centriacinar emphysema with holes located around the terminal bronchioles and preservation of more distal air spaces. The parenchyma along the major fissure shows some distal acinar emphysema. Panacinar emphysema involves the entire acinus. Centriacinar emphysema This section of centriacinar emphysema shows the enlarged air spaces around a small airway.
Respiratory epithelium remains at the arrow.
The more peripheral alveoli are normal. These PMNs, if activated, can potentially digest the collagen and elastin of the alveolar wall. Its function is not known, but any contribution of platelets would help to preserve the integrity of the capillary bed.