Pneumothorax vs. Atelectasis — What's the Difference?

A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath.

Atelectasis is the collapse or closure of a lung resulting in reduced or absent gas exchange. It is usually unilateral, affecting part or all of one lung.

Accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity, occurring as a result of disease or injury, or sometimes induced to collapse the lung in the treatment of tuberculosis and other lung diseases.

The absence of gas from all or part of the lung, due to failure of expansion of the alveoli.

(medicine) Presence of air inside the pleural cavity, usually caused by injury either to the lung or the chest wall.

A congenital condition characterized by incomplete expansion of the lungs.

A condition in which air or other gas is present in the cavity of the chest; - called also pneumatothorax.

(medicine) The collapse of a part of or the whole lung caused by inner factors rather than a pneumothorax.

Abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lung; may be spontaneous (due to injury to the chest) or induced (as a treatment for tuberculosis)

Collapse of an expanded lung (especially in infants); also failure of pulmonary alveoli to expand at birth