Silicosis Mimicking Lung Malignancy: A Case Series

Silicosis, an important occupational disease, is caused by inhalation of silicon dioxide and can lead to pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Silicosis can be misdiagnosed for malignant disease, as both can present with hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET imaging. This case series describes three patients who were suspected to have a primary lung malignancy based on FDG-PET findings, but were found to have pulmonary silicosis. With this series, we demonstrate how histologic examination can differentiate between silicosis and malignancy and provide suggestions to help clinicians differentiate between these two illnesses.