CXR interpretation

Question 1

Differentials for “cavitating lung lesions” on CXR

Answer 1

abscess
lung cancer (SCC)
tuberculosis (TB)
Wegener’s granulomatosis
PE
Rheumatoid arthritis
Fungal infection

Question 2

What bacteria commonly cause lung abscesses

Answer 2

Staph aureus
Klebsiella
Pseudomonas

Question 3

What type of lung cancer commonly presents as a cavitating lung lesion?

Answer 3

squamous cell

Question 4

What fungal infections can cause cavitating lung lesions?

Answer 4

aspergillosis
histoplasmosis
coccidioidomycosis

Question 5

Cancers which commonly cause lung mets

Answer 5

breast cancer
colorectal cancer
renal cell cancer
bladder cancer
prostate cancer

Question 6

Which cancer is responsible for “Cannonball mets”

Answer 6

Renal cell carcinoma

(may also occur secondary to choriocarcinoma and prostate cancer)

Question 7

Calcification in lung metastases is uncommon except in the case of which two cancers?

Answer 7

chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma

Question 8

Describe the appearance of cannonball mets

Answer 8

Multiple well defined nodules distributed in both lung fields