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Primary pulmonary lymphoma presenting as lung mass
G C Khilnani1, Arvind Kumar, O P Malhotra
1Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. gckhil@hotmail.com
The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences
|April 10, 2003
Summary
Lung masses in elderly patients are usually lung cancer. This case highlights an unusual presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) mimicking lung cancer, diagnosed after surgery when initial tests were inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
- Pathology
Background:
- Bronchogenic carcinoma is the most frequent cause of lung mass in elderly individuals.
- Diagnostic challenges arise when initial investigations fail to confirm the etiology of a lung mass.
Observation:
- An elderly patient presented with a lung mass initially suspected to be lung cancer.
- Standard diagnostic procedures including sputum examination, bronchoscopy, and fine needle aspiration cytology were inconclusive.
Findings:
- Exploratory thoracotomy and pneumonectomy revealed a lung mass.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), with no other sites involved.
- The patient was recommended chemotherapy for the diagnosed NHL.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of lung masses in the elderly.
- It highlights the limitations of non-invasive diagnostic methods in certain cases, necessitating surgical intervention for definitive diagnosis.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment planning, including chemotherapy for NHL, as opposed to treatments for bronchogenic carcinoma.