Presentation
Smoker of substantial number of pack years. Cough and shortness of breath.
Patient Data
Age: 70 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Left upper lobe collapse
{"current_user":null,"step_through_annotations":true,"access":{"can_edit":false,"can_download":true,"can_toggle_annotations":true,"can_feature":false,"can_examine_pipeline_reports":false,"can_pin":false},"extraPropsURL":"/studies/50240/annotated_viewer_json?lang=us"}
Volume loss and a veiled like appearance of the left hemithorax.
Left hilar mass.
Right lung clear.
Case Discussion
Classical appearance and presentation of a left upper lobe collapse.
The lobe collapsed anteriorly giving a 'veiled like' appearance to the hemithorax and often as in this case discernable volume loss.
In a smoker, the cause is considered lung cancer until proven otherwise. It may be apparent on the chest x-ray as in this case with a central obstructing hilar mass. In other cases CT chest or bronchoscopy reveal a endobronchial mass.
Other less common causes include mucus plugging.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.