During this test, a flexible, lighted tube is placed down your throat. It can find the causes of atelectasis, such as pneumothorax, where air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall, and pleural effusion, where fluid builds up around the lungs. A small, hand-held device is pressed against your chest and moved as needed to capture the images. This test uses sound waves to create detailed images of structures inside your chest. It helps in finding out how severe the atelectasis is. This simple test uses a small device placed on one of your fingers to measure your blood oxygen level.
A CT may be better than an X-ray at finding the cause and type of atelectasis. But other tests may be done to confirm the source of symptoms or figure out the type or severity of atelectasis. A doctor's examination and plain chest X-ray may be all that's needed to diagnose atelectasis.
