Which physical exam finding is most consistent with pneumonia in a single lobe?

• A. Dullness to percussion over the affected lobe.
• B. Hyperresonance over the affected lobe.
• C. Hyperinflation of the lungs.
• D. Bradycardia.

Answer: (A)

Dullness to percussion over the affected lobe is most consistent with pneumonia in a single lobe. When a lobe becomes consolidated, air is replaced by inflammatory exudate, making the tissue denser. Dense, fluid-filled tissue conducts sound more efficiently, so tapping on that spot yields a dull, rather than a resonant, note.

In practice, this localized consolidation often comes with other signs like increased tactile fremitus and bronchial breath sounds over the involved area, and crackles. The other findings don’t fit pneumonia in a single lobe: hyperresonance suggests extra air in the chest (as in pneumothorax or emphysema), hyperinflation points to obstructive diseases, and bradycardia is not a typical chest exam sign for pneumonia.