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Pneumothorax

From DrKoop's partner site on asthma, MyAsthmaCentral.com
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Aortic rupture, chest X-ray
Aortic rupture, chest X-ray
Chest tube insertion - series
Chest tube insertion - series
Lungs
Pneumothorax - chest X-ray
Pneumothorax - chest X-ray
Pneumothorax - series
Pneumothorax - series
Respiratory system
Respiratory system
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.


Review Date: 08/10/2005
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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