Patient Develops Fungal Infection Following Lung Surgery

ByVictoria Negron

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Updated onMay 31, 2018

Patient Develops Fungal Infection Following Lung Surgery

This case involves a female patient who presented to her primary care physician with a persistent cough. An x-ray showed a large mass in the right lung and the patient was referred to a thoracic surgeon. The thoracic surgeon ordered a CT and PET scan which confirmed the existence of a malignant tumor. The surgeon recommended immediate surgery and performed a lobectomy. The lung tissue was sent for evaluation and pathology revealed a serious fungal infection.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. What is the work-up for a lung mass like the one seen in this scenario?

2. How often you diagnose and treat fungal infections?

3. What is the treatment of a fungal infection?

Expert Witness Response E-088005

inline imageI am a board-certified general thoracic surgeon my clinical practice is focused on minimally invasive surgery for lung and esophageal disease as well as lung transplantation. I am also an NIH funded researcher with a focus on quality care and guideline adherence in the evaluation and treatment of patients with lung cancer. Working in the Midwest, I treat a lot of patients with granulomatous lung disease presenting as pulmonary nodules. I see these patients at least once a month. Even in a non-smoker, a mass like this would be considered suspicious for cancer and I would advocate tissue sampling for confirmation. An evaluation would include PFT's, a CT and PET scan, and an office consultation. A brain MRI would also be recommended for a lesion this size. Then there would be 2 options: percutaneous biopsy or surgical excisional biopsy. Given the size of the lesion, I would likely favor a percutaneous biopsy first to confirm the diagnosis as this mass would not be amenable to a simple wedge resection. Generally, it is best to avoid a diagnostic lobectomy.

About the author

Victoria Negron

Victoria Negron

Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.

Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.

Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.

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