A pneumothorax typically presents with which percussion finding?

A pneumothorax typically presents with which percussion finding?

• A. Dull percussion bilaterally
• B. Hyperresonant percussion on the affected side
• C. Hyperresonant bilaterally
• D. Normal percussion

Answer: (B)

When air collects in the pleural space, it makes the affected side more air-filled and less dense than normal lung tissue. This changes how sound waves travel when you tap the chest, producing a louder, longer sound—hyperresonance—on the side with the pneumothorax. Dull percussion bilaterally suggests fluid or solid tissue in both lungs, not air in the pleural space. Hyperresonant percussion on both sides points to generalized overinflation, like in emphysema, rather than a localized pneumothorax. Normal percussion would indicate no abnormal air or fluid in the chest.

When air collects in the pleural space, it makes the affected side more air-filled and less dense than normal lung tissue. This changes how sound waves travel when you tap the chest, producing a louder, longer sound—hyperresonance—on the side with the pneumothorax. Dull percussion bilaterally suggests fluid or solid tissue in both lungs, not air in the pleural space. Hyperresonant percussion on both sides points to generalized overinflation, like in emphysema, rather than a localized pneumothorax. Normal percussion would indicate no abnormal air or fluid in the chest.