Physical Findings

Stop & Think

Lab and X-Ray

Differential Diagnosis

The Disease

Treatment

Conclusions

Quiz & Evaluation
 

• Middle aged man with chronic cough, fever, SOB and recent hemoptosis.
• Heavy smoker
• X-Ray shows no lung mass, but reveals fluffy infiltrates suggesting and infectious process or alveolar proteinosis.
• CBC suggests infectious process, but doesn't point to any particular bug.
• Sputum has no diagnostic bacteria on gram stain, the culture results are to follow.
• Travels widely with his job, has recently been in southwest.
• Non-contributory family history.
• Previous history of risky sexual behavior.

Now we should be able to develop a list of possible diagnoses (the differential diagnosis) which is likely to include the specific condition Mr. Baldwin suffers from.