Background: A 59-year-old non-smoking woman, with a history of gall stones, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, was referred to our hospital because of persistent coughing, night sweats, headaches and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed no abnormalities. The laboratory findings on admission were as follows: erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 39 mm/h, C-reactive protein level was 62 mg/mL and leukocyte count was 8.0 x 109/L. Bronchoscopic examination showed a normal bronchial tree.