Fade to black!. Issue 4 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yousaf, Zohaib; Jamshaid, Muhammad Bilal; Khan, Dawlat; Murshed, Khaled A.; Munir, Huma
• Is Part Of: Breathe. Volume 16:Issue 4(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0221-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1810-6838

Abstract

A 71-year-old man presented to the emergency room with chest pain, dry cough, shortness of breath and night sweats for 10 days. He had no fever, flu-like symptoms, sputum production or haemoptysis. There was no history of recent travel or sick contacts. A general review of systems was remarkable for subjective weight loss and malaise. He was an active smoker with a 100 pack-years smoking history and a past medical history of rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). His cancer was treated with chemoradiotherapy and had been in remission for 8 years before the presentation. He was also known to have COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) category B, well-controlled, with no recent hospitalisations or exacerbations over the past year. Black pleural effusion is a rare entity and may be a diagnostic dilemma. This interactive case discusses the various steps involved to reach the diagnosis. https://bit.ly/3dFJPTS