Pneumothorax Resulting from Costal Osteochondroma

Osteochondromas are the most common neoplasm of the bone. Two percent of these tumors grow in the chest wall, and can cause severe complications such as pneumothorax. Costal exostoses can cause traumatic pneumothorax through puncture, laceration, or friction from chest wall movement during breathing (Kameda et al., 2016; Imai et al., 2014). The consequent change in intrapleural pressure and possible lung collapse is an urgent medical situation (ENA, 2014) that the advanced practice nurse should diagnose and treat quickly. This poster serves to summarize the pathophysiology of penumothorax caused by osteochondroma