Spontaneous pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the space between the lungs and the chest that "collapses" the lung and prevents it from inflating completely.

See also: Pneumothorax

There are two types of spontaneous pneumothorax:

• Primary spontaneous pneumothorax
• Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax

Spontaneous means there is no traumatic injury to the chest or lung. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in people without lung disease. It occurs most often in tall, thin, young people.

Sometimes people have a family history of this problem. People who have had one spontaneous pneumothorax are at higher risk of the same thing (on the same side or the other side) occurring again.

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in people who have underlying lung disease. The most common lung disease that causes spontaneous pneumothorax is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Other lung diseases associated with spontaneous pneumothorax include:

• Asthma
• Cystic fibrosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer
• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis

• Abnormal breathing movement
  • Restricting chest wall motion when breathing to protect against pain
  • Splinting -- bending over or holding the chest to protect against pain
• Cough
• Rapid respiratory rate
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden chest pain or chest tightness
  • Breathing or coughing makes pain worse
  • Chest pain may be dull, sharp, or stabbing

The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and breath sounds.

You also may have the following tests:

• Chest x-ray
• Arterial blood gases