CXR Case 101
A 35 year old man presents to ED with 2 days of left sided pleuritic chest pain and slight dyspnoea on climbing the stairs.
Describe and interpret this CXR
CHEST X-RAY INTERPRETATION
There is a large left pneumothorax, with partial inflation of the upper lobe apparent in the mid zone, and the edges of the lingula and lower lobe can be visualised in the lower zone.
The right lung parenchyma appears normal
CLINICAL CORRELATION
Most primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) will resolve with time.
Recurrent PSP (2 or more events) may require VATS pleurodesis / pleurectomy as it is likely to recur.
CLINICAL PEARLS
Recurrence is much higher in persistent smokers – this is an important teachable moment for smoking cessation.
TOP 150 CXR SERIES
Prof Fraser Brims Curtin Medical School, acute and respiratory medicine specialist, immediate care in sport doc, ex-Royal Navy, academic| Top 100 CXR | Google Scholar | ICIS Course ANZ