DR Medhat MRCP

• Investigations :
1) Chest X-ray :
- White inner layer of pleura is seen
- Loss of lung broncho-vascular markings outside the inner pleural layer (black)
- Tracheal shift to the opposite side
- Lung collapse
Left Apical pneumothorax 12 mm
left sided pneumothorax
- Size of pneumothorax (= interpleural distance at the level of hilum or percentage) :
Average interpleural distance Approximate size of pneumothorax
0.5 cm 10%
1 cm 15 %
2 cm 30%
3 cm 45%
4 cm 60%
2) ABG : may show hypoxia according to the degree of pneumothorax & lung collapse
3) CT/chest : it`s not a routine , gives accurate size ,it differentiate () large bullus &
pneumothorax