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Cases

Breathless on the flat

A 68-year-old referred with a year of worsening breathlessness and an unhelpful chest radiograph.

68-year-old womanMedicine clinic, then wardFictitious educational patient
50 pack-year smoking historyHypertension

Clinic · Week 0

The referral

A year of slowly progressive exertional dyspnea, now at one flight of stairs. Chronic morning cough, small volumes of white sputum. Fifty pack-years, quit two years ago.

History

Orthopnea or PND?
Sleeps flat; no nocturnal dyspnea.
Chest pain?
None.
Occupational exposures?
Office work; no asbestos, birds, or dusts.
Wheeze?
Occasional, with colds.

Examination

  • Respiratory: Prolonged expiratory phase, scattered wheeze, no crackles.
  • Cardiac: JVP normal, no edema, normal heart sounds.

Which single investigation will most efficiently separate the leading explanations for her dyspnea?

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