September 2018 Pulmonary Case of the Month: Lung Cysts

Lewis J. Wesselius, MD

Department of Pulmonary Medicine

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ USA

Pulmonary Case of the Month CME Information

Completion of an evaluation form is required to receive credit and a link is provided on the last page of the activity. 

0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

Estimated time to complete this activity: 0.50 hours

Lead Author(s): Lewis J. Wesselius, MD. All Faculty, CME Planning Committee Members, and the CME Office Reviewers have disclosed that they do not have any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests that would constitute a conflict of interest concerning this CME activity.

Learning Objectives: As a result of completing this activity, participants will be better able to:

1. Interpret and identify clinical practices supported by the highest quality available evidence.
2. Establish the optimal evaluation leading to a correct diagnosis for patients with pulmonary, critical care and sleep disorders.
3. Translate the most current clinical information into the delivery of high quality care for patients.
4. Integrate new treatment options for patients with pulmonary, critical care and sleep related disorders.

Learning Format: Case-based, interactive online course, including mandatory assessment questions (number of questions varies by case). Please also read the Technical Requirements.

CME Sponsor: The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson

Current Approval Period: January 1, 2017-December 31, 2018

Financial Support Received: None

History of Present Illness

A 67-year-old woman was referred for mild shortness of breath for several years, but worse since January 2018.  She has dyspnea on exertion after 1 block. An outside chest x-ray, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram are reported as normal. She was begun on prednisone at 40 mg/day and her symptoms improved. However, her symptoms worsened when the dose tapered to 5 mg/day. She gained 35 pounds while on the prednisone and tried a steroid inhaler therapy without benefit. She is still dyspneic after 1 block of exertion.

Past Medical History, Social History, Family History

• Her past medical history was only positive for gastroesophageal reflux for which she takes ranitidine and hypertension for which she takes lisinopril.
• She was a life-long nonsmoker.
• There was no occupational history, hot tub or bird exposures.
• Family history is noncontributory.

Physical Examination

• Her SpO2 was 94% on room air.
• Chest:  few crackles noted at right base.
• Cardiovascular: regular rate and rhythm without a murmur.
• Extremities: no edema or clubbing.

Which of the following should be done at this time? (Click on the correct answer to be directed to the second of eight pages)

1. Measure her SpO2 after exercise
2. Reassure the patient the patient that she has hysterical dyspnea
3. Pulmonary function testing
4. 1 and 3
5. All of the above

Cite as: Wesselius LJ. September 2018 pulmonary case of the month: lung cysts. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2018;17(3):85-92. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc101-18 PDF 

September 2015 Pulmonary Case of the Month: Holy Smoke

Samir Sultan, DO

David M. Baratz, MD

Banner University Medical Center Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ

History of Present Illness

A 43-year-old woman presents to the office for second opinion of her dyspnea. She has very mild dyspnea with exertion which she notices when she cannot keep up with people going up stairs. She also has a "smoker’s cough".

Past Medical History, Family History, Social History

Her past medical history, family history and social history are unremarkable other than she smokes 1 ppd for the past 20 years and had a "collapsed lung" about 15 years ago.

Physical Examination

Her physical examination was unremarkable except for a small scar on her right chest.

Radiography 

A chest x-ray (Figure 1) was performed. 

 

Figure 1. PA (Panel A) and lateral (panel B) chest radiography.

Which of the following are true regarding the chest x-ray? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the second of five panels)

1. The chest -ray shows a widened mediastinum
2. The chest x-ray is normal
3. The chest x-ray shows a diffuse reticulonodular infiltrate
4. The chest x-ray shows bilateral hilar adenopathy
5. The chest x-ray shows small bilateral pleural effusions

Cite as: Sultan S, Baratz DM. September 2015 puilmonary case of the month: holy smoke. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;11(3):90-6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc112-15 PDF

August 2015 Pulmonary Case of the Month: Holy Sheep

Jennifer M. Hall, DO

David M. Baratz, MD

Banner University Medical Center Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ

History of Present Illness

A 42-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with chest pain and dyspnea. The onset of symptoms was acute, initially endorsing left-sided sharp chest pain which then progressed with dyspnea. Chest radiograph was read as normal. Laboratory evaluation was notable for an elevated D-Dimer which prompted a thoracic CT scan to be obtained.

Past Medical History, Family History, Social History

• She had well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis (on no medical therapy) and was diagnosed with emphysema by her PCP two years earlier.
• Her mother died from pulmonary embolism secondary to underlying lung cancer.
• She quit smoking 2 years ago with a total of 20-pack-years.

Physical Examination

Patient was in mild distress with heart rate of 105, respiratory rate of 22, but otherwise stable, SpO2 was 95% while breathing ambient air. She had diminished breath sounds in both bases, but otherwise her chest was clear to auscultation. The remainder of the exam was unremarkable.

Radiography 

A chest x-ray (Figure 1) and a thoracic CT scan (Figure 2) were performed.

Figure 1. Initial PA of the chest.

Figure 2. Thoracic CT scan in lung windows. Panels A-F: representative static images. Lower panel: video.

A chest tube was placed for the left-sided pneumothorax.

What is the next step in management? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the second of five panels)

1. Bronchoscopy
2. Consider pleurodesis
3. Observation with repeat CT in 3 months
4. Open lung biopsy
5. 1 and 3
6. 2 and 4

Reference as: Hall JM, Baratz DM. August 2015 pulmonary case of the month: holy sheep. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;11(2):53-8. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc103-15 PDF