Lung abscesses mimicking multiple pulmonary metastases

Five patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer through Hickman central venous catheters had lung lesions detected by plain chest radiography or computed tomography. In each case these were initially misdiagnosed as metastases, although they ultimately proved to be staphylococcal abscesses. Because of the grave implications of an erroneous diagnosis of metastatic malignant disease, clinicians are urged to consider abscesses in the differential diagnosis of radiological chest abnormalities in such patients.