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Spontaneous pneumothorax

Case contributed by Jeremy Jones
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Acute difficulty breathing after a relatively short history of cough and temperature.

Patient Data

Age: 3 months
Gender: Male
x-ray

Focal opacification in the right upper zone with a region of hyperlucency peripherally. The peripheral zone does not have any bronchovascular markings. Features are of a pneumothorax complicating a chest infection (likely bronchiolitis).

3 months later

x-ray

Following treatment with an intercostal drain and IV antibiotics, the chest x-ray is normal. No underlying cause.

Case Discussion

This 3 month old infant has a right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax.  It was treated with intercostal drain insertion and after 3 months, there was complete resolution.

No features to suggest an underlying cause and no suggestion of NAI.

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