Disease or Syndrome
pneumothorax Audio
[ noo-moh-thor-ax ]
Subclass of:
Pleural Diseases
Etymology:
Greek pneumon = lung + thorax = chest
Definitions related to pneumothorax:
  • A collection of air or other gas between the visceral and parietal pleura.
    NICHD Pediatric Terminology
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Accumulation of air in the pleural cavity leading to a partially or completely collapsed lung.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
  • An accumulation of air or gas in the PLEURAL CAVITY, which may occur spontaneously or as a result of trauma or a pathological process. The gas may also be introduced deliberately during PNEUMOTHORAX, ARTIFICIAL.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • (pneumothorax disorder) Accumulation of air or gas in the pleural space, which may occur spontaneously or as a result of trauma or a pathological process.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • A disorder characterized by abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lung.
    Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
    U.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
  • Pneumothorax is air in the pleural space causing partial or complete lung collapse. Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously or result from trauma or medical procedures. Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria and chest x-ray. Most pneumothoraces require transcatheter aspiration or tube thoracostomy.
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
  • Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity (ie, the potential space between the visceral and parietal pleura of the lung). The clinical results are dependent on the degree of collapse of the lung on the affected side.
    Medscape
    WebMD, 2025
  • A pneumothorax (noo-moe-THOR-aks) is a collapsed lung. A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall. This air pushes on the outside of your lung and makes it collapse. Pneumothorax can be a complete lung collapse or a collapse of only a portion of the lung.
    Mayo Clinic
    Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2025
  • Pneumothorax occurs when air gains access to, and accumulates in, the pleural space.
    Epocrates
    Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.