A 68-Year-Old Man Comes to the Office for Gradually Increasing

A 68-year-old man comes to the office for gradually increasing shortness of breath.  He initially experienced symptoms with exertion but now feels short of breath at rest.  The patient has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes per day for 40 years.  Blood pressure is 138/78 mm Hg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are 22/min.  The chest x-ray is shown in the image below: Which of the following measures is most likely increased in this patient?

A) Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide
B) Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
C) Forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio
D) Forced vital capacity
E) Residual volume/total lung capacity ratio

Correct Answer:

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