Hemothorax presents with which clinical finding on percussion?

• A. Dullness to percussion
• B. Increased breath sounds
• C. Wheezing
• D. Hyperresonance to percussion

Answer: (A)

In a hemothorax, blood fills the pleural space, making that area denser than aerated lung. When you percuss the chest, that density produces a dull, non-hyperresonant sound over the affected side. This contrasts with a pneumothorax, where air in the pleural space yields a hyperresonant percussion note. The presence of pleural blood typically also leads to reduced or absent breath sounds over the affected hemithorax. So the expected percussion finding in a hemothorax is dullness.