Upon assessment of respiratory excursion,the clinician notes asymmetric expansion of the chest.One side expands greater than the other.This could be due to:

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Asymmetric expansion of the chest is a classic sign of pneumothorax, which occurs when air enters the pleural space and causes the lung to collapse. In this condition, the affected side of the chest will have reduced or absent respiratory excursion, while the unaffected side will expand normally. Pleural effusion and pneumonia can also cause reduced respiratory excursion, but they typically affect the entire chest rather than just one side. Pulmonary embolism, on the other hand, does not usually cause asymmetric expansion of the chest.

Upon Assessment of Respiratory Excursion,the Clinician Notes Asymmetric Expansion of the Chest.One