What it means
Normally the lung presses right against the inside of the chest wall. In a pneumothorax, air gets into the thin space between them, often from a small tear on the lung's surface, an injury or a medical procedure. The lung then pulls partly or fully away from the chest wall. On X-ray, a thin white line marks the lung's edge, with no lung markings beyond it.
When it matters
A small pneumothorax with mild symptoms may be watched with repeat X-rays while the body absorbs the air. A larger one, or one causing breathlessness, may need the air removed with a needle or a small chest tube. A tension pneumothorax, where trapped air builds up and pushes the heart to one side, is an emergency. Some people, often tall young adults or smokers, have it more than once.
Questions to ask your doctor
- How large is the pneumothorax, and is it getting bigger on repeat X-rays?
- Does it need a needle or chest tube, or can it be watched?
- When is it safe for me to fly or scuba dive again?
