A 65-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department Due to an Episode

A 65-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to an episode of hemoptysis that occurred earlier this morning.  The patient estimates that he coughed up about 100 mL of blood.  Prior to this episode he was in his usual state of health and felt well, with no fevers, night sweats, or weight loss.  He has had occasional episodes of blood-tinged sputum over the past few months.  The patient's past medical history is significant for tuberculosis (TB) that was effectively treated several years ago.  He had smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 45 years but quit 4 years ago.  A representative cut of the CT scan, shown in the image below, demonstrates changes consistent with prior TB infection, including an old left upper lobe cavity.  Compared to prior scans, the main difference is that the cavity now appears to be filled with a round mass. Which of the following best describes this patient's condition?

A) Allergic
B) Colonizing
C) Contagious
D) Invasive
E) Malignant

Correct Answer:

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