COPD Exacerbation

A 72-year-old woman with severe COPD, who uses an inhaled LAMA/ LAMA daily on a set schedule and SABA via MDI as needed for symptom relief, presents with a 4-day history of URI symptoms, starting with sore throat and clear nasal discharge, without fever. She denies N, V, or other GI upset. She now reports a 2-day history of increasing shortness of breath and production of clear to white sputum. SaO2= 97% and she is no acute distress. In considering the diagnosis of COPD exacerbation, which of the following best describes the role of imaging in the evaluation of COPD exacerbation?

A. A chest x-ray should be ordered in COPD exacerbation in the patient with fever and/or low SaO2 to help rule out concomitant pneumonia.

B.  A chest x-ray should be ordered routinely in the evaluation of a person with COPD exacerbation.

C. Given the frequency of COPD exacerbations that typically occur in a person with COPD, chest x-ray use should be limited due to radiation exposure risk.

D. A thoracic ultrasound is the preferred imaging study to order in a COPD exacerbation.

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