Parenchymal pseudotumoral tuberculosis: case series and systematic review of literature

Tuberculosis is a rampant infectious pandemic worldwide, with an annual incidence of 8 million active cases and 2 million deaths. Tuberculosis is also among the leading causes of solitary pulmonary nodule in the tropics. Although lymph nodal masses are common in tuberculosis, parenchymal masses are distinctly rare. We report eight immunocompetent adults admitted with large pulmonary masses, and ultimately diagnosed to have parenchymal pseudotumoral tuberculosis. Clinical and radiological resolution followed anti-tubercular therapy alone. We have also conducted a MEDLINE search and summarize the clinical features of all patients with parenchymal pseudotumoral tuberculosis. We also compare our findings with published literature and discuss the possible mechanisms leading to large inflammatory masses, clinical and radiologic clues to the same, common errors in clinical decision making and the therapy of this rare entity.