Pneumothorax can also lead to passive atelectasis as the air in the pleural space causes the underlying lung to partially collapse. Note how the cardiac shadow was not seen in the right hemithorax as ...Pneumothorax can also lead to passive atelectasis as the air in the pleural space causes the underlying lung to partially collapse. Note how the cardiac shadow was not seen in the right hemithorax as the central mediastinal structures have all shifted to the left due to the total atelectasis of the left lung. Total, resorptive, atelectasis with obstruction of the bronchi supplying both lobes of the left lung and the right upper lobe by the endotracheal tube.
