Obstructive Lung Disease
This pulmonary function test value differentiates asthma from emphysema: it's classically normal or increased in asthma, but reduced in emphysema due to loss of alveolar-capillary surface area.
What is DLCO (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide).
This high-resolution CT pattern — subpleural, basal-predominant reticulation with honeycombing — is characteristic of this specific ILD.
What is usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
This pleural fluid finding — a triglyceride level above 110 mg/dL — is diagnostic of this type of effusion, often caused by thoracic duct injury or lymphoma.
What is chylothorax.
This clinical prediction rule, incorporating factors like confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age, helps determine whether a CAP patient can be safely treated as an outpatient.
What is the CURB-65 score.
This is the first-line treatment for a hemodynamically unstable (“massive”) pulmonary embolism (without contraindication).
What is systemic thrombolysis.
This is the single most effective intervention to slow disease progression in COPD.
What is smoking cessation
This connective tissue disease-associated ILD often presents as part of the antisynthetase syndrome, with mechanic's hands and Raynaud phenomenon.
What is polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated ILD?
A markedly elevated level of this pleural fluid enzyme supports a diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in the right clinical context.
What is adenosine deaminase (ADA).
This opportunistic pneumonia, seen in patients with advanced HIV and a CD4 count under 200, classically shows bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities on imaging.
What is Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)?
This clinical decision rule helps identify which patients with suspected PE and low pretest probability can safely forgo further workup.
What is the PERC rule.
This clinical syndrome presents with the triad of asthma, nasal polyposis, and NSAID/aspirin sensitivity.
What is aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (Samter's triad).
This occupational lung disease classically causes upper-lobe predominant fibrosis with “eggshell” calcification of hilar lymph nodes.
What is silicosis
This bedside pulmonary function measurement, when progressively declining, predicts impending respiratory failure and need for intubation in Guillain-Barré syndrome or myasthenic crisis.
What is negative inspiratory force (NIF) or forced vital capacity (FVC).
This fungal hypersensitivity syndrome should be suspected in a poorly controlled asthmatic with central bronchiectasis, markedly elevated total IgE, and eosinophilia, and is classically triggered by this organism.
What is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), caused by Aspergillus fumigatus.
This progressive complication of unresolved pulmonary emboli causes chronic dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension, and is treated with this surgical procedure in eligible patients.
What is chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), treated with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.
This oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor is indicated for severe COPD with a chronic bronchitis phenotype and a history of frequent exacerbations.
What is roflumilast.
This antifibrotic medication, along with pirfenidone, is FDA-approved to slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
What is nintedanib?
This malignancy, strongly associated with asbestos exposure, classically presents with an exudative pleural effusion with low glucose and low pH, and stains positive for calretinin on cytology.
What is malignant mesothelioma.
In a patient who aspirates while supine, this bronchopulmonary segment of this lobe is the most common site for the resulting aspiration pneumonia, due to gravity-dependent drainage.
What is the superior segment of the right lower lobe.
Per current hemodynamic definitions, a resting mean pulmonary artery pressure above this threshold on right heart catheterization is required to diagnose pulmonary hypertension.
What is mean PAP >20 mmHg.
This anti-IgE monoclonal antibody for allergic asthma carries a black-box warning for this life-threatening reaction, requiring in-office observation for at least 2 hours after each of the first three doses.
What is omalizumab (black-box warning for anaphylaxis).
This ILD results from chronic exposure to an inhaled organic antigen, such as bird droppings or moldy hay.
What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
This syndrome describes a benign ovarian tumor associated with ascites and a pleural effusion (usually right-sided), both of which resolve after surgical resection of the tumor.
What is Meigs syndrome.
This chronic, indolent bacterial infection classically crosses normal tissue planes and fascial boundaries, mimicking malignancy, and is associated with “sulfur granules” on pathology and with poor dentition.
What is actinomycosis.
This oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator is uniquely approved for both pulmonary arterial hypertension and inoperable or persistent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, but must never be combined with this other drug class due to risk of severe hypotension.
What is riociguat (must not be combined with PDE5 inhibitors, e.g., sildenafil/tadalafil).