Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax means air has collected between the lung and chest wall, causing partial or complete lung collapse.
When to get help quickly: Pneumothorax can be urgent, especially if breathing is difficult, chest pain is significant, or the collapse is large or under pressure.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms include sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain that can feel worse when breathing in.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps confirm that the lung has partly or fully collapsed, estimate how large the pneumothorax is, and guide whether intervention is needed.
What radiology does
Chest X-ray is commonly used to detect it, and CT may help in complex or traumatic cases.
What usually happens next
Management ranges from observation to urgent chest tube placement depending on size, symptoms, and cause.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
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