The Case of the Vanishing Lung Mass

A 50-year-old man with dyspnea and a history of cancer presents with a lung mass. Explore the Differential Diagnosis and management of a phantom tumor.

Diurese the patient and then obtain a repeat chest radiograph


A 50-year-old man with a history of mitral-valve prolapse and of Hodgkin’s lymphoma 20 years earlier presented to the emergency department with a 5-day history of dyspnea. Physical examination showed jugular venous distention, a holosystolic murmur at the cardiac apex, and diminished breath sounds in the lung bases. A radiograph of the chest was performed. What is the best next step in regard to the right lung opacity?

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Collect a sputum culture and then initiate empiric antibiotics
Diurese the patient and then obtain a repeat chest radiograph
Obtain a computed tomography scan of chest
Perform a bronchoscopy
Perform a thoracentesis

Congestive Heart Failure, Diurese the patient and then obtain a repeat chest radiograph, Mitral Regurgitation, Phantom Tumor, Pleural Effusion

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