Bullous emphysema diagnosis

The respiratory symptoms are ambiguous for diagnosis of bullous emphysema, but the bullae can be easily found by X-ray and CT scan, so chest X-ray check is as the main method. We can see the number, location, the wall and air cavity, whether to complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax from chest X-ray. They can be also as the method for differential diagnosis between bullous emphysema and pneumothorax.

A person who believes he or she may be experiencing the first signs of the disorder should consult a doctor immediately to make a proper diagnosis and arrange for treatment.

Diagnosing a huge bullous emphysema rupturing to pneumothorax

If that occur, patients will feel onset symptoms, as shortness of breath, cough, breathing difficulties, or even chest pain similar to angina pectoris. That is typical and common clinic manifestation in a danger bullous emphysema.

Risk for bullous emphysema

If a huge bullous emphysema is misdiagnosed for pneumothorax to do a chest puncture, that will make the air out of the bulla to lead to pneumothorax. Sometimes, there is no need to make sense the difficult diagnosis in a emergency to save patient's life, for example, severe breathing difficulty.

Source: BullousEmphysema.org
Last update: 2011-11-03