08-15-2008, 12:03 PM
. A 67-year-old man has had shortness of breath on exertion for 3 months; he has had an 11.3-kg (25-lb) weight loss during this period. He has smoked two packs of cigarettes daily for 25 years. He appears chronically ill. Examination shows decreased breath sounds on the left; heart sounds are normal. An x-ray film of the chest shows a large left-sided pleural effusion. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?
A
) Bronchoscopy
B
) Thoracoscopy
C
) Closed pleural biopsy
D
) Open pleural biopsy
E
) Thoracentesis
A
) Bronchoscopy
B
) Thoracoscopy
C
) Closed pleural biopsy
D
) Open pleural biopsy
E
) Thoracentesis