Question

A 72-year-old man presents with progressive shortness of breath over the years. He denies chest pain or a history of smoking. The patient was in the construction business for many years, and before that he worked as a ship builder. Chest X-ray reveals marked interstitial fibrosis and calcified pleural plaques on the lateral chest wall. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Silicosis
2. Asbestosis
3. Siderosis
4. Byssinosis
5. Tuberculosis

Answer 1

A 72-year-old former construction worker and shipbuilder with progressive shortness of breath and calcified pleural plaques on chest X-ray likely has Asbestosis, a type of pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos exposure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely diagnosis for a 72-year-old man with progressive shortness of breath, who has a history of working in construction and as a shipbuilder, and whose chest X-ray reveals marked interstitial fibrosis and calcified pleural plaques is Asbestosis.

Asbestosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis caused by asbestos exposure, commonly seen in individuals with a work history in shipbuilding or construction involving asbestos. The presence of calcified pleural plaques on imaging is particularly indicative of asbestos exposure and is not commonly associated with other diseases such as silicosis, siderosis, byssinosis, or tuberculosis.