TY - JOUR T1 - Wheeze in the time of COVID-19: overcoming obstacles to an unusual diagnosis JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 1050 LP - 1053 DO - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-218526 VL - 77 IS - 10 AU - Mhairi Barclay AU - Silviu Buderi AU - Andrew Bush AU - Mat Daniel AU - Simon Jordan AU - Alexandra Rice AU - Nigel Ruggins AU - Thomas Semple AU - Alan Robert Smyth Y1 - 2022/10/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/77/10/1050.abstract N2 - This case is an example of a rare cause of a common clinical presentation (persistent lobar collapse with wheeze). We describe patient management from primary care through to a national thoracic referral centre. We highlight the importance of objective testing to support an asthma diagnosis and the need to consider alternative or additional diagnoses if a patient does not respond to treatment or the clinical course is unexpected. We highlight the importance of follow-up X-ray to determine whether atelectasis has resolved, which was significantly delayed in this case due to COVID-19 restrictions. Though rare, an endobronchial tumour should be considered if atelectasis persists and when planning endoscopy for a presumed foreign body, especially if the clinical history and patient factors make a foreign body less likely. Greater awareness of this as a differential may expedite diagnoses for patients in future. We show how virtual, multicentre, multidisciplinary meetings can aid rapid diagnosis, surgical planning and coordination of follow-up across centres. ER -