Lung Function

[JR44]

What is Subsegmental atelectasis at the lung bases.  This was the "Impression" on a recent hospital test. The "Indication" was Dyspnea.

[National Jewish Health]

The lungs are divided, anatomically, into progressively smaller portions; lung to lobes to segments and then sub-segments.  Atelectasis means collapse.  Thus, x-ray findings that suggest collapse of a sub-segment would be a very small piece of lung.  In almost all instances, this finding has no implication, serious or otherwise.  When larger portions of lung collapse, one wonders about their being a bronchial obstruction, by mucus or tumor.  This is not so with sub-segmental atelectasis, which is frequently reversible over time.  The most one would ever do, and this with a history of heavy smoking, would be to repeat the x-ray in a year.

[JR44]

Thanks so very much for your clear and concise explanation.