What are Giant Bullae?
A giant bulla is a complication of emphysema. In areas of the lung completely damaged by the disease, air pockets can develop. These areas threaten the patient’s health not only because of the underlying emphysema. As an air pocket—a bulla—grows, it takes up space in the chest cavity and can encroach on the lungs. Severe disruption of normal lung function due to the crowding and pressure is a common result. Bullous emphysema is also known as vanishing lung syndrome. It is most often treated by surgical removal of the bulla, which can grow to 20 centimeters—more than a foot—in diameter. A bulla that takes up a third or more of the space in and around the affected lung is called a giant bulla. Because of its close association with emphysema, giant bullae are most often found in older patients who smoke or used to smoke. A giant bulla is classified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), along with chronic bronchitis and asthma.
