The space between: pneumothorax or bulla
Authors: Lydiya Thomas, Ratna Alluri, Mahendran Chetty, Mohammed Khalil
Background: Distinguishing between a bulla and pneumothorax can sometimes be difficult especially in the absence of preexisting lung disease, leading to inappropriate intervention. Case Presentation: We report the case of a well 32-year-old male who presented with a year’s history of insidious onset breathlessness. A routine chest radiograph was thought to show a large pneumothorax. He had chest drains placed with no radiological improvement. A video-assisted thoracic surgery procedure revealed a giant bulla. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of correlating clinical assessment with radiological findings. Early Computerised Tomography (CT) imaging should be considered prior to pleural intervention in clinically stable patients.
Keywords: Pneumothorax, bulla, chest drain, chest X-Ray, vanishing lung syndrome.
Authors
Correspondence to:
Lydiya Thomas, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZN lydiya.thomas@nhs.scot
Publication history:
Received 11 Aug 2022
Revised 07 Dec 2022
Accepted 09 Dec 2022
Published online 29 Dec 2022
Published in print 29 Dec 2022
Thomas L, Alluri R, Chetty M, Khalil M. The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. EJMCR. 2022; 6(9): 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas L, Alluri R, Chetty M, Khalil M. The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. https://www.ejmcr.com/?mno=102591 [Access: May 10, 2024]. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas L, Alluri R, Chetty M, Khalil M. The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. EJMCR. 2022; 6(9): 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas L, Alluri R, Chetty M, Khalil M. The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. EJMCR. (2022), [cited May 10, 2024]; 6(9): 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas, L., Alluri, . R., Chetty, . M. & Khalil, . M. (2022) The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. EJMCR, 6 (9), 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas, Lydiya, Ratna Alluri, Mahendran Chetty, and Mohammed Khalil. 2022. The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 6 (9), 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas, Lydiya, Ratna Alluri, Mahendran Chetty, and Mohammed Khalil. "The space between: pneumothorax or bulla." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 6 (2022), 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas, Lydiya, Ratna Alluri, Mahendran Chetty, and Mohammed Khalil. "The space between: pneumothorax or bulla." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 6.9 (2022), 173-176. Print. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671
Thomas, L., Alluri, . R., Chetty, . M. & Khalil, . M. (2022) The space between: pneumothorax or bulla. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 6 (9), 173-176. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/73-1660231671