What Causes Compression Atelectasis?
Compression Atelectasis often results from respiratory disorders such as Pleural effusions (primarily affects the lower lobes), or Pneumothorax (more likely to involve the upper lobes) that invade the plueral space, thereby reducing the plmonary volume. Any disease that results in a large pleural-based lung mass (thereby the decreasing lung volumes) may result in compression atelectasis. In other words, Compression atelectasis can be caused by any lung disease that leads to Chest wall, pleural, or intraparenchymal masses, or causes build up of pleural fluid.
