Case history
Case history #1
A 67-year-old retired construction worker has shortness of breath with activity that has been gradually getting worse, and a chronic cough. He denies chest pain. He has a 45-pack-year smoking history, but quit at age 50. There is no family history of lung disease. He does not take any respiratory medication on a regular basis. With colds he has noticed wheezing and his doctor once prescribed an inhaler.
Case history #2
A 55-year-old factory maintenance worker falls at work. A chest x-ray is performed to evaluate the patient for a possible broken rib. Bilateral pleural thickening is seen on chest x-ray. Further history indicates he is very active without any respiratory symptoms. He smokes 20 cigarettes a day. There is no family history of lung disease. He does not take any respiratory medicine.
Other presentations
Rarely, a patient may present with an acute pleural effusion or pleurisy with fever and chest pain, which may last weeks to months. Over time, these patients are likely to develop diffuse pleural thickening.
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