Large pneumothorax

Case contributed by Daniel Hyeong Seok Kim
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Chest pain post chest tube removal.

Patient Data

Age: 30 year old
Gender: Male
x-ray

1. Large right-sided pneumothorax with complete collapse of the right lung without significant mediastinal shift.

2. Minimal left lower lung zone atelectasis. No discrete focal consolidation, effusion or pneumothorax on the left.

3. The heart and central pulmonary vascularity appear normal.

4. No acute osseous findings. No free air in the upper abdomen.

Case Discussion

Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space accompanied with collapse or atelectasis of the lung. The collection of air may compress the mediastinal structures and result in tension pneumothorax which is a true emergency requiring urgent needle thoracostomy or chest tube placement. With no tension present it is referred to as simple pneumothorax. Causes of pneumothorax varies and can be categorized into primary, secondary, and iatrogenic or traumatic.

 

This case was submitted with supervision and input from:
Soni C. Chawla, M.D.
Health Sciences Clinical Professor,
Department of Radiological Sciences,
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Attending Radiologist,
Olive View - UCLA Medical Center.

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