rounded atelectasis

atelectasis

 [at″ĕ-lek´tah-sis] a collapsed or airless state of the lung, which may be acute or chronic, and may involve all or part of the lung. The primary cause is obstruction of the bronchus serving the affected area. adj., adj atelectat´ic. ƒ
In congenital atelectasis of the fetus or newborn, the lungs fail to expand normally at birth. This may be due to any of a variety of causes, including prematurity (often accompanying hyaline membrane disease); diminished nervous stimulus to breathing and crying; fetal hypoxia from any cause, including oversedation of the mother during labor and delivery; or obstruction of the bronchus by a mucous plug.
In older individuals atelectasis may be the result of airway obstruction, as by secretions or a tumor (called obstructive, absorption, or acquired atelectasis); or it may be from a failure to deep breathe, such as postoperatively or because of neuromuscular disease. It occurs most commonly as a complication in the postoperative period, when deep breathing and spirometry" >incentive spirometry are often used to prevent or treat it. Mechanisms of atelectasis. A, Collapse of the lung in pneumothorax. B, Compression of the lung by pleural fluid. C, Resorption of the air from alveoli distal to an obstructed bronchus. Obstructive atelectasis is usually focal. Atelectasis of premature infants, which is caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant, is not shown. From Damjanov, 2000. Symptoms. In acute atelectasis in which there is sudden obstruction of the bronchus, there may be dyspnea and cyanosis, elevation of temperature, a drop in blood pressure, or shock. In the chronic form, the patient may experience no symptoms other than gradually developing dyspnea and weakness.
X-ray examination may show a shadow in the area of collapse. If an entire lobe is collapsed, the x-ray will show the trachea, heart, and mediastinum deviated toward the collapsed area, with the diaphragm elevated on that side.Treatment. Atelectasis in the newborn is treated by suctioning the trachea to establish an open airway, positive-pressure breathing, and administration of oxygen. High concentrations of oxygen given over a prolonged period tend to promote atelectasis and may lead to the development of retrolental fibroplasia in premature infants.
Acute atelectasis is treated by removing the cause whenever possible. To accomplish this, coughing, suctioning, and bronchoscopy may be employed. In atelectasis due to airway obstruction with secretions, chest physiotherapy is often useful. Chronic atelectasis usually requires surgical removal of the affected segment or lobe of lung. Antibiotics are given to combat the infection that almost always accompanies secondary atelectasis.absorption atelectasis (acquired atelectasis) that produced by any factor, e.g., secretions, foreign body, tumor, or abnormal external pressure, that completely obstructs the airway, preventing intake of air into the alveolar sacs and permitting absorption of air into the bloodstream. Called also obstructive or secondary atelectasis.congenital atelectasis that present at birth (primary atelectasis) or immediately after (secondary atelectasis).lobar atelectasis that affecting only a lobe of the lung; called also segmental atelectasis.lobular atelectasis that affecting only a lobule of the lung.obstructive atelectasis absorption atelectasis.passive atelectasis relaxation atelectasis.primary atelectasis congenital atelectasis in which the alveoli have never been expanded with air.relaxation atelectasis atelectasis because of large amounts of air or fluid in the pleural cavity, as in pneumothorax or pleural effusion. Called also passive atelectasis.round atelectasis (rounded atelectasis) a localized, reversible form in subjacent peripheral tissue, often following pleural effusion and characterized by focal pleural scarring.secondary atelectasis congenital atelectasis in which resorption of the contained air has led to collapse of the alveoli.acquired atelectasis.segmental atelectasis lobar atelectasis.subsegmental atelectasis that affecting only the part of a lung distal to an occluded segmental bronchus.

round·ed at·el·ec·ta·sis

an area of atelectatic lung caused by parenchymal infolding due to pleural fibrosis, most often from asbestos exposure; appears as a masslike opacity and can be mistaken for lung cancer; may be associated with a comet tail sign; high level of contrast enhancement on dynamic computed tomography aids diagnosis. Synonym(s): folded-lung syndrome

A condition associated with asbestosis and pleural plaques
A form of pulmonary collapse associated with pleural thickening that can mimic a neoplasm on plain chest radiographs. The abnormality was diagnosed radiologically in nine patients in whom follow-up varied from 1 to 6 years. Four patients had bilateral lesions, making a total of 13 examples. The CT findings were analyzed and compared with previously published criteria for the diagnosis of this disorder. In all cases, CT showed a rounded mass, 3.5-7.0 cm in diameter, abutting a thickened pleural surface in the lung periphery. The margin closest to the hilum was blurred by the entering vessels in 92% of the cases.

round·ed at·el·ec·ta·sis

, round atelectasis (rownd'ĕd at'ĕ-lek'tă-sis, rownd) An area of atelectatic lung caused by parenchymal infolding due to pleural fibrosis, most often from asbestos exposure; appears as a masslike opacity and can be mistaken for lung cancer; may be associated with a comet tail sign; a high level of contrast enhancement on dynamic computed tomography aids diagnosis.