A 68-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to cough, breathlessness, and chest pain. He has hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is a former smoker with a 20-pack-year history. Temperature is 38 C (100.4 F), blood pressure is 130/80 mm Hg, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation is 95% on ambient air. The trachea is central. There is dullness to percussion over the lower right lung area compared to resonance on the left. Auscultation of the right lower lobe reveals breath sounds that are loud, hollow, and high-pitched. When the patient recites the word "ninety-nine" in a normal voice, the sound has higher clarity and intensity over the right base compared to other lung areas. Which of the following is the most likely cause of these findings?
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