Atelectasis
Brief definition
Atelectasis means that part of the lung has stopped filling with air, either partly or completely. The tiny air sacs (alveoli) there have collapsed, so that piece of lung looks dense and solid on a CT or X-ray. It is a very common finding, and it covers a huge range — from a tiny streak that means nothing to an entire lobe that has shut down.
What is behind this finding?
The radiologist notes where it is and how much lung is involved (“plate-like atelectasis in the right lower lobe”) and tries to work out what caused it. There are three common types. Plate-like atelectasis shows up as small, streaky densities and usually comes from shallow breathing — after surgery, with pain, or during a long stretch of bed rest. Compression atelectasis means something outside the lung is pressing on it, often a pleural effusion. Resorptive atelectasis means a bronchus is blocked: the lung beyond the blockage gets no air and shrinks. That last type is the one that matters most, because whatever is blocking the airway — a mucus plug, an inhaled object, a tumor — needs to be identified.
What does this mean for you?
Small plate-like atelectases are usually harmless and clear up once you are moving around again and doing deep-breathing exercises. A large one, or one that will not go away, needs a cause — especially when there is no obvious explanation such as recent surgery or pneumonia. If a resorptive atelectasis has no identifiable cause, a bronchoscopy is the next step to rule out a tumor.
When is a second opinion worthwhile?
A second opinion is most useful when the atelectasis sticks around or nobody can say what caused it, because that is the setting in which a tumor sitting behind the blocked bronchus can be missed. For a small atelectasis found by chance in someone with no symptoms, there is much less to gain from a second read. Second View gives you an independent radiological assessment of your CT or X-ray within 48 hours.
How can I request a second opinion?
1. Get in touch
Contact us through our platform.
2. A radiologist gets back to you
A board-certified radiologist contacts you personally and works with you to pin down exactly which question the second opinion should answer — and whether your existing images (MRI, CT, or X-ray) are suitable for a second read.
3. Transparent, upfront pricing
You then receive a firm quote — usually €70–150, depending on the type of exam.
4. The second reading
Once you approve and pay, our radiologists — all licensed to practice in Germany — review your images carefully and independently.
5. Your report & follow-up questions
Your report arrives digitally, written in plain, easy-to-understand language.
If anything is unclear, you can speak directly with the radiologist who read your images.
Tip:
Many private health insurers reimburse some or all of the cost of a radiological second opinion.
You’ll receive an invoice you can submit to your insurer. If you have German statutory health insurance (GKV), you currently pay for the second opinion yourself — statutory insurance does not cover it (Section 27b of the German Social Code, Book V).