A 68-Year-Old Man Is Evaluated in the Hospital Due to a Pleural

question 138

Multiple Choice

A 68-year-old man is evaluated in the hospital due to a pleural effusion.  He has a history of base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma with involvement of multiple left anterior cervical lymph nodes.  Two days ago, the patient underwent surgery to remove the tumor and the anterior cervical lymph nodes.  Today, he has increasing shortness of breath, and chest x-ray reveals a large left pleural effusion.  Which of the following was most likely injured during this patient's surgical procedure?

• A)Esophagus
• B)Innominate artery
• C)Lung parenchyma
• D)Phrenic nerve
• E)Thoracic duct
• F)Trachea

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