COPD USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 58-year-old male sandblaster with 30-year exposure history presents with progressive dyspnea, cough, and chest tightness over 6 months. Vital signs: BP 138/88 mmHg, HR 102/min, RR 22/min, SpO2 88% on room air. Chest X-ray reveals upper lobe nodular opacities with eggshell calcification of hilar lymph nodes. Pulmonary function tests show reduced FEV1/FVC ratio. He denies hemoptysis. He takes only albuterol PRN. Which additional complication is most strongly associated with this occupational exposure?
Answer choices
- APulmonary hemorrhage from anti type IV collagen antibodies
- BBronchiolitis obliterans after lung transplantation
- CPleural mesothelioma due to amphibole fibers
- DPulmonary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosisCorrect answer
- EPeripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung in never smokers
- FAccelerated progression to massive pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory failure
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