Makindo Medical Notes.com |
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Finding | Clinical Appearance | Possible Causes |
---|---|---|
Barrel Chest | Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest |
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema - Aging |
Pectus Excavatum | Depression or sunken appearance of the sternum |
- Congenital deformity
- Often asymptomatic, but can be associated with restrictive lung disease |
Pectus Carinatum | Protrusion of the sternum (pigeon chest) |
- Congenital deformity
- Can be associated with conditions like Marfan syndrome |
Kyphosis | Excessive outward curvature of the thoracic spine, leading to a hunched back |
- Osteoporosis
- Scheuermann's disease - Congenital kyphosis |
Decreased Chest Expansion | Reduced movement of the chest during inspiration |
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumonia - Pulmonary fibrosis - Severe asthma or COPD exacerbation |
Asymmetrical Chest Expansion | Unequal movement of the chest wall during breathing |
- Pneumothorax
- Pleural effusion - Atelectasis |
Tactile Fremitus | Increased or decreased vibration felt on the chest wall during speech |
- Increased: Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia)
- Decreased: Pleural effusion, pneumothorax |
Dullness on Percussion | Dull sound when tapping on the chest |
- Pleural effusion
- Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia) - Tumour |
Hyperresonance on Percussion | Increased resonance when tapping on the chest |
- Pneumothorax
- Emphysema |
Crackles (Rales) | Fine or coarse crackling sounds heard during inspiration |
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary oedema - Pulmonary fibrosis - Bronchiectasis |
Wheezing | High-pitched whistling sound, usually during expiration |
- Asthma
- COPD - Bronchitis - Anaphylaxis |
Rhonchi | Low-pitched, snoring-like sounds heard during breathing |
- Chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis - Cystic fibrosis |
Pleural Rub | Grating sound heard during both inspiration and expiration |
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary infarction |
Absent Breath Sounds | No breath sounds heard in a particular area of the lung |
- Pneumothorax
- Pleural effusion - Severe atelectasis |
Type of Examination | Finding | Possible Causes |
---|---|---|
Palpation | Decreased Chest Expansion |
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumonia - Pulmonary fibrosis - Severe asthma or COPD exacerbation |
Asymmetrical Chest Expansion |
- Pneumothorax
- Pleural effusion - Atelectasis |
|
Tactile Fremitus (Increased) | - Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia) | |
Tactile Fremitus (Decreased) |
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax |
|
Percussion | Dullness on Percussion |
- Pleural effusion
- Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia) - Tumour |
Hyperresonance on Percussion |
- Pneumothorax
- Emphysema |
|
Tympany |
- Large pneumothorax
- Bowel sounds in the chest (e.g., diaphragmatic hernia) |
|
Auscultation | Crackles (Rales) |
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary oedema - Pulmonary fibrosis - Bronchiectasis |
Wheezing |
- Asthma
- COPD - Bronchitis - Anaphylaxis |
|
Rhonchi |
- Chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis - Cystic fibrosis |
|
Pleural Rub |
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary infarction |
|
Bronchial Breath Sounds |
- Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia)
- Atelectasis |
|
Absent Breath Sounds |
- Pneumothorax
- Pleural effusion - Severe atelectasis |
|
Egophony | - Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia) | |
Decreased Breath Sounds |
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax - Emphysema |