Positional Dyspnea and Oxygen Desaturation Related to Carcinoma of the Lung

Body position can lead to respiratory symptoms and affect gas exchange in disease states. We describe a patient with carcinoma of the left lung in whom dyspnea and oxygen desaturation developed in the right lateral position only. Fiberoptic bronchoscopic study demonstrated a tumor mass protruding into the left main-stem bronchus, which caused further narrowing when the patient turned on his right side.