Mark, age 72, complains of a productive cough and other symptoms for 8 weeks. What would be one of the first tests you order?

In the context of a 72-year-old patient presenting with a productive cough lasting 8 weeks, the most appropriate initial test to order is a chest x-ray. This imaging study helps visualize any potential abnormalities in the lungs, such as infections, tumors, or other pulmonary issues that could explain the symptoms. The chest x-ray can reveal signs of pneumonia, tuberculosis, or even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are critical to consider in an older adult with a significant cough.

The Mantoux test is a screening tool primarily used to detect latent tuberculosis infection. While tuberculosis can cause a persistent cough, it would not be the first step in evaluating someone with these symptoms.

Complete blood work could provide helpful information regarding overall health and possible underlying conditions, but it does not directly assess the primary cause of the cough.

Sputum culture could be valuable for identifying infections, but it is typically performed after initial imaging suggests that an infectious process is present. Therefore, a chest x-ray serves as a more immediate and non-invasive way to assess the cause of the cough in this patient.