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Course: Patient With Pulmonary Symptoms, Dysphagia, and Raynaud Disease

CME Credits: 1.00

Released: 2023-07-27

A 73-year-old man with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and Raynaud disease but no history of cigarette smoking presented to the emergency department with 4 weeks of dysphagia and a 4.54-kg (10-lb) weight loss over 3 months. He had no nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, melena, or hematochezia but reported a cough productive of yellow sputum, dyspnea on exertion, and fatigue. The patient had been treated for presumed pneumonia with 3 courses of azithromycin over the prior 3 months due to infiltrates on a chest radiograph. He reported no known ill contacts or recent travel outside the US. At presentation, his heart rate and blood pressure were normal, and oxygen saturation was 95% on room air. Physical examination revealed a maculopapular rash over his neck and chest (, left panel) and bibasilar crackles on lung auscultation. Laboratory testing showed a white blood cell count of 14.3?×-103/?L (reference, 4.2-9.1?×-103/?L); creatine kinase level, 2060 U/L (34.40 ?kat/L) (reference, 44-196 U/L [0.73-3.27 ?kat/L]), aldolase level, 18 U/L (0.30 ?kat/L) (reference, <8 U/L [<0.13 ?kat/L]), C-reactive protein level, 30 mg/L (reference, <8 mg/L), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 35 mm/h (reference, <20 mm/h). Antinuclear antibody immunofluorescent assay findings were positive. Results from testing for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C were negative. A barium swallow study showed no visualized aspiration. Endoscopy revealed clean-based esophageal and duodenal ulcers and nonspecific gastritis. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed bibasilar pulmonary consolidations and ground glass opacities (, right panel).


Educational Objective
Based on this clinical scenario and the accompanying image, understand how to arrive at a correct diagnosis.


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