Question
A 65 year-old man undergoes pulmonary function testing as part of a routine health-screening test. He had no pulmonary complaints. He is a lifelong nonsmoker and had a prior history of asbestos exposure while serving in the Navy. His pulmonary function test results are seen in the left image and Flow volume loop result is seen in the right image.What is the most probable diagnosis?
A. Normal.
B. Restrictive Lung Disease.
C. Moderate Obstructive Lung Disease.
D. Mild Obstructive Lung disease.
Show Answer
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Correct Answer » A
Explanation
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Ans: A. Normal.
This case demonstrates an example of normal pulmonary function tests.
- The FVC and the FEV1 are 102% and 95% of predicted, respectively, values well above the lower limit of normal and the FEV1/FVC ratio is greater than the predicted value.
- The flow-volume loop also corresponds quite nicely to the predicted values for this patient (darkened circles).
- Based on this normal spirometry pattern, you would conclude that there is no evidence of air-flow obstruction.
- The patient also has normal total lung capacity, indicating that there is no evidence of restriction, and a normal diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, indicating that the alveolar-capillary surface area for gas exchange is normal.
- There is no bronchodilator response
