Serious Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Lung Cancer

Collapsed Lung

A collapsed lung can be a symptom that occurs in individuals affected by lung cancer as a manifestation of their malignancy. A lung tumor grows larger over time, which can cause one or more partial or full blockages of the lung passageways or endobronchial obstruction. When air is unable to pass through the passageway, it does not reach the air sacs or alveoli. The air in the alveoli is eventually reabsorbed by the capillaries, causing the sacs to cave in on themselves and collapse. When numerous alveoli collapses occur near each other, the entire lobe of the lung will collapse. In some cases, the tumor begins on an outer edge of the lung and grows outward into the space between the chest wall and surface of the lung. The tumor may grow to be extensive enough to place a significant amount of external pressure on the passageways and alveoli inside of the lung. This mechanism ultimately inhibits air from reaching many of the alveoli, resulting in the lungs inability to inflate. When the lung cannot inflate, it collapses in on itself. Another mechanism that can cause a lung collapse is when another factor causes fluid to accumulate in the pleura. The fluid places external pressure on the lung that ultimately stops it from being able to fill up with air, resulting in a collapse of part or all of the lung.

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