Coexistence of tuberculosis and squamous cell carcinoma in the right main bronchus: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND Lung cancer with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) refers to the occurrence of lesions simultaneously or sequentially in the lung(s) of the same patient, and the pathological examination and sputum TB examination diagnose them as lung cancer and TB, respectively. The occurrence of endobronchial TB (EBTB) with endobronchial tumor sequentially in the same bronchus lesion of the same patient is relatively rare. CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old female patient was admitted to a local hospital on June 18, 2019 after a 3-mo history of dyspnea. She was a farmer and had no history of smoking and alcohol misuse. The patient had neither family nor work contact indicating exposure to TB. Emergency chest computed tomography (CT) examination showed that the right main bronchus was occupied and malignant tumor was possible. Histopathologic examination of a bronchial biopsy showed granulomatous inflammation with caseification and the presence of acid fast bacilli (AFB). However, after 6 mo of antitubercular treatment, repeat bronchoscopy and biopsy histological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma. The patient has started on systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin. After another two cycles of therapy, chest CT showed complete resolution of the lesions. Bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial aspirate were negative for AFB and cancer cells. CONCLUSION It is not only more likely that a patient presenting with what appears to be TB will concurrently have a pulmonary malignancy than someone who does not have a TB infection, but also that it is of greater urgency to make an expedited diagnosis of the malignancy.

Navigating the Maze: Exploring Non-Oncological Complexities in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

“…In our study, tuberculosis was identified in five cases, with four cases affecting the lung parenchyma and one case involving both the lung parenchyma and the lymph nodes. The results are consistent with other reported data in the literature where parenchymatous tuberculosis was more frequently associated with lung cancer than the endobronchial one [20]. This observation underscores the potential significance of parenchymal tuberculosis as a predisposing factor or coexisting condition in patients with lung cancer.…”

An Interesting Sequel of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

“…Moreover, the lateral genetic transfer of mycobacterial DNA into the bronchial epithelial cell DNA may cause neoplastic transformation [ 3 ]. Thus, malignant transformation in a previously healed TB scar of the lung is one of the rare sequels of PTB.…”

“…There are several reports of patients developing lung cancer at the site of old PTB scars [3][4][5]. The proposed theories for this association include the presence of chronic inflammation, scarring of lung parenchyma, and genetic damage caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is believed to initiate the process of carcinogenesis and eventually lead to lung cancer [3]. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histopathological type of lung cancer, followed by epidermoid carcinoma.…”