The PTX medical abbreviation most often means pneumothorax, air that has leaked into the space between the lung and the chest wall so the lung partly or fully collapses. Less often, PTX means parathyroidectomy in surgical and kidney notes, or paclitaxel, a chemotherapy medicine, in cancer care, so the setting decides which one the writer meant.
On a chest x ray or CT report, in an emergency note or in a trauma handoff, PTX almost always refers to the collapsed lung. This page focuses on that meaning, decodes a typical report, and shows how to tell the other meanings apart.
At a glance
Stands for
Pneumothorax (most common)Other meanings
Parathyroidectomy (surgery, nephrology); paclitaxel (oncology)Word roots
Pneumo (air, lung) plus thorax (chest)Used in
Emergency, trauma, radiology, pulmonology, ICUMain test
CXR, chest CT, bedside ultrasoundRelated forms
HPTX (hemopneumothorax), tension PTX, iatrogenic PTX
What the PTX medical abbreviation means on a scan report
A pneumothorax happens when air gets into the pleural space, the thin gap between the lung and the inside of the chest wall. Normally that space has a slight suction that keeps the lung expanded. Air breaks the seal and the lung pulls away from the wall. Symptoms often include sudden one sided chest pain and shortness of breath, though a small one may cause few symptoms.
Radiologists describe the size, the side and whether it is pushing structures in the middle of the chest, which is called mediastinal shift. Those details guide whether it is watched, drained with a needle or treated with a chest tube.
Types of pneumothorax you may read
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Primary spontaneous | Occurs without injury in a person with no known lung disease, often tall young adults |
| Secondary spontaneous | Occurs in someone with lung disease such as COPD |
| Traumatic | Caused by an injury such as a rib fracture or stab wound |
| Iatrogenic | Caused by a procedure such as a central line or lung biopsy |
| Tension | Air builds up under pressure and squeezes the heart and other lung, an emergency |
Reading a PTX report line
Chest x ray: "Small apical R PTX, no mediastinal shift; repeat film in 6 h." In plain words, a small amount of air sits at the top of the right chest, nothing is being pushed out of place, and the team plans another x ray in six hours to see whether it is growing or shrinking.
Trauma note: "L PTX, 28 Fr chest tube placed, lung re-expanded on post film." A left sided collapsed lung was treated with a chest tube, and the follow up x ray shows the lung back against the wall.
Notes may also write ptx in lower case or the letter X after pneumo, as in pneumo for short.
When PTX is not about the lung
In endocrine surgery and kidney care, PTX often means parathyroidectomy, removal of one or more parathyroid glands, usually for an overactive gland that raises calcium. A dialysis note saying "s/p PTX for tertiary hyperparathyroidism" is about surgery, not lungs. In oncology, PTX is sometimes shorthand for paclitaxel, a chemotherapy medicine, on treatment plans. Because these meanings are so different, many safety teams encourage writing the full word. If the meaning is not clear from the section or specialty, ask the writer.
Frequently asked questions
What does PTX mean on a chest x ray?
On a chest x ray or CT, PTX means pneumothorax, air in the space around the lung that causes it to partly collapse. The report usually gives the side and the size.
Is PTX the same as a collapsed lung?
Yes, in lung and emergency notes. A pneumothorax is the medical term for a collapsed lung caused by air leaking around it.
What does PTX mean in kidney or surgery notes?
There it often means parathyroidectomy, surgery to remove parathyroid glands. The context, such as calcium levels or dialysis, makes this clear.
What is a tension PTX?
A tension pneumothorax is one where trapped air builds pressure and pushes on the heart and the other lung. It is an emergency that is relieved quickly with a needle or chest tube.