Non-pleuritic chest pain and recurrent lobar collapse

Summary 

Respiratory chest pain is usually pleuritic in origin although the bronchi have been described as having pain sensation. A subject with chronic bronchitis presented with 4 episodes of collapse of her left lower lobe documented on X-ray. Each of these episodes was associated with non-pleuritic chest pain over the left lower lobe of moderate severity that resolved with antibiotic treatment. Follow-up X-rays demonstrated lung re-inflation. The suggestion from this case is that lobar collapse which probably occurred from atelectasis; is associated with a distinctive type of chest pain. Awareness of this symptom may facilitate an earlier diagnosis of pulmonary collapse.

Keywords: Chest pain, Lobar collapse, Atelectasis