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Question
67 yo male presents with burning substernal chest pain; worse with meals and when supine. What's the diagnosis?
Answer
Answer: Hiatal hernia
- Hiatal hernias are commonly retrosternal and present with GERD-like symptoms
- A barium swallow is the diagnostic test of choice.
The differential diagnosis for circumscribed air-fluid levels on chest X-ray includes:
- Hiatal hernia
- Cavitary disease (e.g., tuberculosis)
- Empyema
- Lung abscess
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