After All, It was Not Lung Cancer: When The Evidence is Misleading

  • Joana Braga Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal
  • Francesca Pereira Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal
  • Cristiana Fernandes Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal
  • Marinha Silva Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal
  • Cristina Marques Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal
  • Daniela Alves Department of Pneumology, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal
  • Carlos Oliveira Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Santa Maria Maior, Braga, Portugal

Keywords

Pulmonary nodule, parasitic infection, non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

The aetiology of pulmonary nodules is varied, with malignant lesions being the most important and requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. However, although clinical presentation and imaging may suggest a specific diagnosis, it should be kept in mind that some benign pathologies mimic more serious disease.
A 50-year-old man presented with left pleuritic chest pain. A CT scan showed an ipsilateral pulmonary spiculated nodule. Pneumonia was assumed and the patient was started on antibiotic therapy. In the absence of improvement, positron emission tomography and a transthoracic aspiration biopsy were performed. Lung cancer was diagnosed and the patient underwent an upper lobectomy. However, examination of the surgical specimen showed no malignancy.

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  • Published: 2021-04-12

    Issue: 2021: Vol 8 No 4 (view)

    Section: Articles

    How to cite:
    1.
    Braga J, Pereira F, Fernandes C, Silva M, Marques C, Alves D, Oliveira C. After All, It was Not Lung Cancer: When The Evidence is Misleading. EJCRIM 2021;8 doi:10.12890/2021_002422.

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