A 72-Year-Old Woman With Multiple Pulmonary Nodules and a History of Malignancy

A 72-year-old woman, nonsmoker, presented with approximately 2 months of nonproductive cough. The cough was initially intermittent, occurred more regularly during bedtime, but gradually became more frequent throughout the day with no reported triggering factors. The remaining review of associated symptoms was negative; she did not complain of shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, muscle weakness, weight loss, night sweats, or fatigue. She previously had been given a prescription of butamirate syrup and decongestant nasal spray with no response. Her medical history included successfully treated papillary thyroid cancer with total thyroidectomy 4 years ago, and there was no need for further therapy. Patient was free of disease on follow up from her endocrinologist, to optimize levothyroxine treatment. Her regular prescription included statins. Her professional occupation was not related to special exposure, and she reported no alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, or any recent travel.