JOURNAL ARTICLE

Think twice before diagnosing tension pneumothorax: a retrospective analysis of pseudotension pneumothorax.

  • Published In: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 2025, v. 67, n. 4. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Xie, Linyan; Song, Lili; Wang, Jiajia; Wang, Zailiang; Lei, Wei 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the clinical challenge of distinguishing pseudotension pneumothorax (PTP) from true tension pneumothorax (TP), a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate treatment. A retrospective analysis of 45 misdiagnosed cases identified four main conditions mimicking TP: diaphragmatic hernia (DH), giant pulmonary bullae (GPB), cystic lung lesions (CLLs), and pulmonary hydatid cyst (PHC). The study highlights that careful evaluation of medical history, clinical features, chest X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and selective gastric tube insertion are critical for accurate differential diagnosis. It emphasizes caution in performing thoracic tube drainage due to the high risk of iatrogenic complications in PTP cases and advocates for comprehensive diagnostic approaches to prevent misdiagnosis and subsequent harm.

Additional Information

  • Source:European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. 2025/04, Vol. 67, Issue 4, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Consumer Health
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1010-7940
  • DOI:10.1093/ejcts/ezaf098
  • Accession Number:185198389
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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