Correct!
1. The frontal chest radiograph shows a large pleural effusion
The frontal chest radiograph shows near-complete opacification of the left thorax, representing a large left pleural effusion. No clear evidence of new or worsening cardiomegaly is noted, but detecting such would be difficult given the obscuration of the left cardiac border. The pacemaker leads and aortic valve prosthesis are in normal position and appear unchanged. The left pulmonary artery cannot be seen, but the right interlobar pulmonary artery is visualized and appears normal in size.
The patient underwent emergent repeat echocardiography at the bedside, which was limited, but showed a small left ventricular cavity with hyperdynamic function with a small right ventricular cavity with new mild-to-moderate right ventricular dysfunction, with a normal position of the interventricular septum. Only a tiny posterior pericardial effusion was seen. Left pleural effusion was visualized.
Which of the following possibilities is most likely to account for the patient’s current condition? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the fourth of eight pages)