A 62-Year-Old Man Is Evaluated for Shortness of Breath

question 383

Multiple Choice

A 62-year-old man is evaluated for shortness of breath.  During pulmonary function testing, the patient performs a forceful and complete exhalation after maximal inhalation.  The results (red curve) are compared to a healthy individual of the same age and sex (black curve) , as shown in the image below: Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's dyspnea?

• A)Adult-onset asthma
• B)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• C)Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• D)Unable to determine without bronchodilator testing

---

Definitions:

Rogue Wave

A large, unexpected, and suddenly appearing surface wave that can be extremely dangerous, even to large ships.

Oceanic Trench

Deep, narrow depressions in the ocean floor, often formed at subduction zones where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another.

Magmatic Belt

A zone abundant in igneous rocks, typically associated with plate boundaries where magma activities are prevalent.

Passive Margin

The transition zone between oceanic and continental lithosphere that is not an active plate margin.