Centriacinar emphysema is most characteristic of which pattern?

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Multiple Choice

Centriacinar emphysema is most characteristic of which pattern?

Centriacinar emphysema involves destruction centered around the proximal parts of the acinus near the respiratory bronchioles, with the distal alveoli relatively spared early on. This pattern is most strongly linked to cigarette smoking, which injures the small airways first and tends to produce greater destruction in the upper lobes. In contrast, destruction that affects the entire acinus (panacinar) is seen with conditions like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and often has a different distribution. So the description of smoking with upper-lobe predominance best fits centriacinar emphysema.

Centriacinar emphysema involves destruction centered around the proximal parts of the acinus near the respiratory bronchioles, with the distal alveoli relatively spared early on. This pattern is most strongly linked to cigarette smoking, which injures the small airways first and tends to produce greater destruction in the upper lobes. In contrast, destruction that affects the entire acinus (panacinar) is seen with conditions like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and often has a different distribution. So the description of smoking with upper-lobe predominance best fits centriacinar emphysema.

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