Pneumomediastinum in a 63-year-old woman with asthma exacerbation.

63-year-old woman with asthma presented with a 1-week history of increasing dyspnea, wheezing, and a productive cough. The patient stated that her grandchild was sick at home with otitis media and sore throat. The patient had a 20-pack-year history of cigarette smoking but had stopped smoking 10 years ago. Her history was significant for systemic lupus erythematosus, diagnosed 10 years ago and controlled with hydroxychloroquine and prednisone (10 mg/d). Twenty-five years ago, the patient had tuberculosis that was treated with isoniazid and a right lower lobe resection. She had a mastectomy and hysterectomy 20 years ago for a benign tumor.