Radiological review of pneumothorax

Spontaneous pneumothorax is relatively common in the community. The incidence of iatrogenic pneumothorax is difficult to assess but is probably increasing due to the more widespread use of mechanical ventilation and interventional procedures such as central line placement and lung biopsy. Correct interpretation of chest radiographs in this clinical setting and knowledge of when to request more complex imaging techniques are essential. In this review we discuss the role of the chest radiograph in the assessment of pneumothorax before and after treatment along with the value of computed tomography and radiologically guided chest drain placement.