Question

A 55-year-old man presents with chronic cough, weight loss and haemoptysis. He has a 40 pack-year smoking history. Chest X-ray shows a right upper lobe mass. What is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test to obtain tissue diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy or bronchoscopy with biopsy depending on lesion location

Answer

Sputum cytology only

Answer

PET scan only

Answer

Empiric chemotherapy without biopsy

Answer

Thoracotomy without prior imaging

Practice question

A 55-year-old man presents with chronic cough, weight loss and haemoptysis. He has a 40 pack-year smoking history. Chest X-ray shows a right upper lobe mass. What is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test to obtain tissue diagnosis?