title: New air-fluid levels in bullous lung disease: a reevaluation.
abstract: Air-fluid levels appearing in lung bullae are always considered to indicate infection and therefore conservative management with prolonged antibiotics and observation to resolution is the recommended approach. This article presents a case of bullous lung disease with new air-fluid levels, in which a diagnosis of malignancy was made by aspiration of the fluid. This association is discussed and a more aggressive evaluation of such patients to include computed tomography of the chest and fluid sampling is recommended before a presumption of benignity is made.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown Department of Medicine, District of Columbia General Hospital, Washington, DC 20003, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography