Question

What is the cause of spontaneous PTX?

1) Trauma
2) Lung disease
3) Infection
4) Unknown

Answer 1

The cause of spontaneous pneumothorax is often unknown, linked to subtle connective tissue abnormalities, not directly related to trauma, lung disease, or infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cause of spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX), which is a collapsed lung, can often be attributed to unknown reasons, related to subtle abnormalities in the lung's connective tissue. While trauma, lung disease, and infection can also lead to pneumothorax, these causes are typically associated with secondary pneumothorax, which occurs in the presence of underlying lung conditions like pneumonia or emphysema. In the case of spontaneous PTX specifically, it is not caused by trauma (1) directly, but rather can occur in an otherwise healthy individual without any apparent cause (4), although factors such as genetic predisposition or unrecognized lung pathology can contribute.