title: Pneumothorax: from definition to diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Pneumothorax is an urgent situation that has to be treated immediately upon diagnosis. Pneumothorax is divided to primary and secondary. A primary pneumothorax is considered the one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease. On the other hand secondary pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung pathology. There is the case where an amount of air in the chest increases markedly and a one-way valve is formed leading to a tension pneumothorax. Unless reversed by effective treatment, this situation can progress and cause death. Pneumothorax can be caused by physical trauma to the chest or as a complication of medical or surgical intervention (biopsy). Symptoms typically include chest pain and shortness of breath. Diagnosis of a pneumothorax requires a chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan. Small spontaneous pneumothoraces typically resolve without treatment and require only monitoring. In our current special issue we will present the definition, diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax from different experts in the field, different countries and present different methods of treatment.
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kioumis
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pitsiou
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porpodis
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lampaki
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papaiwannou
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsikogiannis
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zaric
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Perin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Branislav
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nevena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Secen
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dryllis
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Machairiotis
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Aggeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapti
authors.affiliation: 1 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 2 Surgery Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 3 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; 4 Hematology Department, "Laiko" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 5 Obstetric-Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece ; 6 Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Hospital for Chest Diseases, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
keywords: Pneumothorax; medical thoracoscopy; secondary; spontaneous