Neonatal pneumothorax

Case contributed by Jeremy Jones
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Meconium in liquor after a difficult delivery. Respiratory distress.

Patient Data

Age: 1 day
Gender: Female
x-ray

Widespread, bilateral pulmonary airspace opacities. There is differential transradiance with increased lucency on the left consistent with a pneumothorax.

Case Discussion

There is background meconium aspiration, but in addition, the transradiance of the hemithoraces is unequal. There are numerous causes for a differential transradiance of the hemithoracies, but there is no significant rotation and a pneumothorax should be considered.

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