What do emphysema and sarcoidosis lungs look like?

Different: See the picture below for emphysema appearance which leads to small and large holes in the lung tissue. Sarcoidosis tends to increase the tissue between air spaces and cause fibrosis. Both can lead to airflow obstruction and shortness of breath.

Lung disease: Depends on the stage of sarcoid and emphysema. May look normal early on but can vary.

Not pretty: Emphysema lungs are large and have many distended air sacks. It is commonly called "smokers lung" and the lungs look as in the picture. Sarcoidosis, though, rarely can have "emphysematous changes", . For the most part, it is associated with scarring of the lungs as well as large lymph nodes in between the lungs.