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Re-expansion pulmonary edema

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Ongoing shortness of breath post pleural tap.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female

Unilateral, left-sided ground glass opacity that is predominantly basal. Basal septal thickening is also seen. Small left pleural effusion. 

Right plate atelectasis. No right-sided ground glass opacity or pleural effusion. 

Three days prior

x-ray

Large left pleural effusion. 

Case Discussion

This is the typical appearance of re-expansion pulmonary edema, which has occurred post pleural tap. The pleural effusion was presumed to be parapneumonic. 

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