Interesting diagnosis

[longlakeboy]

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This would be a fun gross description. "Serial sectioning reveals a tree."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3281945.html

 

[yaah]

Don't fir trees require sunlight?

 

[BierstiefelAndy]

Don't fir trees require sunlight?

Funny, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Dral]

I think they stage these based on how far the roots penetrate the lung parenchyma.

I also heard that because of this case report, research has begun to plant these intentionally in COPDer's to help remove CO2 and regen O2 right in the lung.

 

[docbiohazard]

I saw another picture of the sapling sort of "inside" what looked like a wedge resection, but oddly enough, it didn't appear to be in a bronchus. It did appear to have a cleanly cut base (which isn't visible in this pic)...

I figure, if anything, he inhaled a twig and did a good job of right main-stemming it or something. Given the complete lack of associated imaging studies (you know they'd shoot an x-ray, at least), and the relatively completely intact, clean and very green specimen, I'm inclined to think this is a hoax.

The green bit bothers me. I'm remembering something from botany about green plants needing sunlight and if you grow them in the dark they look all pale.... but I also didn't do too well in that class, so... I dunno.

DBH