title: Positional dyspnea and oxygen desaturation related to carcinoma of the lung. Up with the good lung.
abstract: Body position can lead to respiratory symptoms and affect gas exchange in disease states. We describe a patient with carcinoma of the left lung in whom dyspnea and oxygen desaturation developed in the right lateral position only. Fiberoptic bronchoscopic study demonstrated a tumor mass protruding into the left main-stem bronchus, which caused further narrowing when the patient turned on his right side.
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange