Is It Time to Modify Definition of Occult Pneumothorax!

Abstract

Advanced medical technology has enabled diagnosis and management of pneumothorax rapidly and accurately. However, diagnostic dilemma arises when clinical picture does not correlate with normal appearing chest X-ray. We present such a case of an occult pneumothorax diagnosed timely by an ultrasound and promptly addressed. This report compels us to think that should we not redefine occult pneumothorax as “Pneumothorax not suspected in initial chest X-ray or clinical examination but detected on a CT scan or ultrasonography chest”?

Keywords

lung ultrasonography - occult pneumothorax - tube thoracostomy

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