Bullous Disease of the Lung Detected by Mass Radiography

Another Hazard of Smoking: Bullous Disease of the Lung

“…The study permits no conclusion with regard to the following points: (1) ingredients of cigarette smoke involved in the process of bullous formation similar to the effect of smoke on alveolar septa in lungs of smoking dogs demonstrated in experiments by Auerbach et a1 4 ; (2) beneficial effect of cigarette filters on bullous disease similar to that reported by Wynder et al for lung cancer 5 ; and (3) the possible reversibility of the effect of smoke on bullous disease in those giving up smoking for various periods of time such as has been in lung cancer data. 6.7 These results are consistent with the hypothesis that cigarette smoke is capable of causing alveolar septal rupture and that other noxious inhalants encountered in certain occupations probably have an additive or synergistic toxic effect.…”

“…The risk of primary lung cancer was 61 per 1,000 men with bullous disease compared to 1.9 cancers per 1,000 men without bullous disease, a relative risk of 32. 1,2 The variables thus far found to relate to bullous lung disease are age, race, and sex. Rates were higher in those 45-to 64-yearsold compared to those 25 to 44, and in only rare instances was bullous disease found in those under 25-years-old; nonwhite men had more bullous disease than white men; bullae were rare in women.…”

Bullous disease of the lung and cannabis smoking: insufficient evidence for a causative link

“…[15][16][17][18][19][20][23][24][25] Based on epidemiological data, among 100 000 men in the age group of the cases reported, one might find 116 with bullae evident on chest radiography. Cannabis smoking is common, so the two will occur together by coincidence.…”

“…15 As they relied on 70 mm images this is likely to be an underestimate. The incidence was higher with increasing age which is what one would expect in any condition which is unremitting and degenerative.…”

“…V o l u m e 9 9 F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 6 15 There is a much smaller pathological report from Australia of 'bong lung' in 10 patients who underwent resection of bullous lung disease. 22 The author states that as he was not blinded to the smoking history of the subjects this can only be an alert.…”