HomeClinicalShortness of breath and chest pain

Shortness of breath and chest pain

    Author: Michele Anzidei, Rome, Italy
    Body Region: Chest

    1. Patient Presentation
    2. CT Images
    3. CT Findings
    4. Diagnosis
    5. References
    Coronal contrast-enhanced CT image at the level of the pulmonary arteries with mediastinum window setting

    1. Patient Presentation

    • A 52-year-old woman presented with acute shortness of breath and bilateral chest pain.
    • Medical history indicated that she had stage IIIb colon cancer under chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil.
    • Clinical examination revealed normal body temperature and non-productive cough.
    • O2 desaturation (70%). Blood exams were unremarkable apart from a slight increase in D-dimer, 280 ng/mL.
    • Chest radiography performed in the emergency department showed bilateral lung consolidations.
    • Contrast-enhanced chest CT was performed to rule out acute pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.