Correct!
5. All of the above
The answer is obviously all of the above. There rather clever pneumonic CAVITY can be used to remember the differential diagnosis of cavitary lung diseases (1,2) (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Mnemonic for cavitary lung diseases.
Her sputum smears and cultures were unremarkable. Of course, in Arizona Valley Fever is included in the differential of nearly every lung disease and her coccidioidomycosis serology was negative. Her Aspergillus antigen, nasal MRSA, and vasculitis panel were all negative. A procalcitonin was slightly elevated at 0.21 ng/ml.
She slowly improved over one week. A thoracic CT scan was repeated (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Thoracic CT images in lung windows from 2/5/18 and approximate corresponding images from 2/12/18.
What should be done at this time? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the fifth of six pages)