The Importance of Clinical Correlation and Impact of Testing Choices on Clinical Care and Outcome

Ms. J was a very healthy, 63-year-old woman in the prime of her life until 2 days prior to admission, when she developed a sharp pleuritic chest pain on the left side. She denied any shortness of breath or upper respiratory symptoms, and had no pain or swelling in her lower extremities. She had traveled to Las Vegas, a 3-hour plane trip, 3 weeks earlier and had what appeared to be a viral illness at that time that improved within a few days. She was not taking any medications, and reported no other changes in her daily routine or abilities.

Thinking that there must be some acute pro...