What physical examination finding is likely in a 67-year-old man with a history of smoking and chronic cough?

A barrel chest is commonly observed in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly emphysema, which can develop in patients with a significant history of smoking and chronic cough. The term "barrel chest" refers to an increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest wall, giving it a rounded appearance that resembles a barrel. This change is primarily due to the hyperinflation of the lungs that results from the trapping of air in the alveoli during expiration, leading to an increase in lung volume and alteration in the shape of the chest wall.

In the context of a 67-year-old man with these risk factors, the presence of a barrel chest can help indicate underlying lung pathology such as emphysema, which can manifest over time due to smoking. The physical examination might also reveal other signs of lung disease, but the barrel chest is a distinctive hallmark associated with chronic lung conditions where chronic cough and smoking are prevalent.

Other potential examination findings like diastolic murmurs, pectus carinatum, or a scaphoid abdomen are less relevant in this scenario. A diastolic murmur pertains more to cardiac conditions, pectus carinatum is a structural chest defect that is usually congenital, and a