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Pneumothorax

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Definition:

A pneumothorax is collection of air or gas in the space surrounding the lungs.

Alternative Names:

Air around the lung; Air outside the lung

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Pneumothorax may result from chest trauma, excessive pressure on the lungs, or an underlying lung disease such as  COPD , asthma , cystic fibrosis , tuberculosis , and whooping cough . In some cases, the cause is unclear.

See also spontaneous pneumothorax , traumatic pneumothorax , and tension pneumothorax .

References:

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000. 

Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.

• Review Date: 8/10/2005
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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