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The Great Mimicker, a Rare Pleural Presentation

McCarthy J, Boyle N, Coyne M, McCarthy C

CHEST pulmonary, 2025

Abstract

A 75-year-old woman presented to the emergency department of a regional hospital with progressive dyspnea for 3 months despite treatment with antibiotics and steroids in the community. There were no associated symptoms. No clear precipitating factors were identified. She did not smoke and had worked as an arable farmer but had no known exposures. Her medical history was remarkable for hypertension and a prophylactic hysterectomy 10 years previously due to a family history of ovarian cancer. Her medications included olmesartan, lansoprazole, and calcium supplements.

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