Which of the following is NOT a sign or symptom of pneumothorax?

Which of the following is NOT a sign or symptom of pneumothorax?

• A. Sudden chest pain
• B. Wheezing
• C. Percussion hyper-ressonant
• D. X-ray showing hyperlucent lung

Answer: (B)

Wheezing is not typically associated with pneumothorax. In this condition, the air enters the pleural space, which can lead to a collapse of the lung. This collapse usually produces symptoms such as sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, and changes in breath sounds that can manifest as diminished or absent breath sounds on examination, rather than wheezing. The other signs listed are consistent with pneumothorax. Sudden chest pain is a common presenting symptom due to the stretching of the pleura or irritation. Percussion hyper-resonance is often found when examining the chest, as the presence of extra air in the pleural space reduces the density of the lung and contributes to a more resonant sound upon percussion. Additionally, an X-ray may reveal a hyperlucent lung field on the side of the pneumothorax because the air in the pleural space allows for more transmission of light through the imaging.

Wheezing is not typically associated with pneumothorax. In this condition, the air enters the pleural space, which can lead to a collapse of the lung. This collapse usually produces symptoms such as sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, and changes in breath sounds that can manifest as diminished or absent breath sounds on examination, rather than wheezing.

The other signs listed are consistent with pneumothorax. Sudden chest pain is a common presenting symptom due to the stretching of the pleura or irritation. Percussion hyper-resonance is often found when examining the chest, as the presence of extra air in the pleural space reduces the density of the lung and contributes to a more resonant sound upon percussion. Additionally, an X-ray may reveal a hyperlucent lung field on the side of the pneumothorax because the air in the pleural space allows for more transmission of light through the imaging.