Pulmonary infections mimicking cancer: report of four cases

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Lung infections can present with imaging findings that mimic lung cancer.
• Differentiating between infection and malignancy based solely on radiological features is often challenging.
• Various pathogens, including fungi, mycobacteria, parasites, and viruses, can cause pulmonary infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diagnostic challenges in differentiating pulmonary infections from bronchogenic carcinoma.
• To present cases where chronic pulmonary infections were misdiagnosed as lung cancer based on imaging.
• To review the literature on imaging-based differentiation of pulmonary infections and lung cancer.

Main Methods:

• Case series reporting four patients with chronic pulmonary infections misdiagnosed as lung cancer.
• Review of radiological features and subsequent diagnostic workup.
• Literature review on the differential diagnosis of pulmonary lesions.

Main Results:

• Four cases of chronic pulmonary infections were initially misdiagnosed as bronchogenic carcinoma due to radiological similarities.
• Biopsy was essential for establishing the correct diagnosis of infection in these cases.
• The study underscores the limitations of imaging in definitively distinguishing certain infections from malignancy.

Conclusions:

• Pulmonary infections can present radiologically in ways that closely resemble lung cancer.
• A high index of suspicion and definitive diagnostic methods like biopsy are crucial.
• Accurate diagnosis is vital for initiating correct and timely therapeutic interventions for pulmonary infections.