40-pack-year Smoking History Has in Medicine / Internal Medicine — 61yo Woman | Respiratory / Pulmonology | SMLE Q#272
SMLE Question #272
Medicine / Internal Medicine
Respiratory / Pulmonology
Objective: OBJ-123
Last updated: February 2026
A 61-year-old woman with a 40-pack-year smoking history has 3 months of progressive dyspnea, chronic cough with occasional blood-streaked sputum, weight loss, and right-sided chest discomfort. Chest CT shows a right upper lobe lung mass with bilateral pleural effusions (right > left). Right-sided thoracentesis meets Light’s criteria for an exudative effusion; pleural fluid cytology results are pending. What is the most appropriate description of the cause of her pleural effusion?
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