Lung cancer mimickers – a case series of seven patients and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Lung is the third most frequent identified site of malignancy and lung cancer is the most lethal type of cancer in the world. Several benign lung diseases or proliferations may mimic lung carcinoma in its clinical, pathological, and radiological presentation, which makes the differential diagnosis life changing. This case series was designed to describe the main diagnosis encountered in a multidisciplinary emergency hospital during the last years in Romania. Results: The most challenging cases encountered during the recent years were those of lung hamartoma associated with eosinophilic pneumonia because of the multicentricity of the disease and the suspicion for metastasis in the clinical setting, pulmonary aspergillosis that presented as a cystic lesion with a 9 mm mural nodule, actinomycosis discovered as firm nodule showing aspects of false pleural invasion, cryptococcosis -a hilar mass for which a pneumectomy was prepared, pulmonary parasitosis that presented as a nodule with irregular borders, causing pleural retraction, one case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the lung, one case of tumorlet type neuroendocrine lesion in a patient with history of melanoma and renal oncocytoma, admitted under the suspicion of lung metastasis. Conclusions: These are some of the main mimickers of primary or secondary lung cancers and one must be aware of these similitudes to avoid higher cost procedures, psychological stress for the patient and higher mortality.

The clinicopathological challenges of symptomatic and incidental pulmonary hamartomas diagnosis

“…In our study group, a history of breast cancer was registered in one case, but the possibility of a secondary cancer was excluded. Analogous observations are available in the literature, Neacşu et al presented an interesting case of PH associated with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, in a patient with a history of gastric carcinoma [17].…”

“…In our study group, a history of breast cancer was registered in one case, but the possibility of a secondary cancer was excluded. Analogous observations are available in the literature, Neacşu et al presented an interesting case of PH associated with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, in a patient with a history of gastric carcinoma [ 17 ]. In addition, PHs associated with concurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and extra-adrenal paraganglioma were diagnosed especially in young women with Carney’s triad [ 13 ].…”

Quantitative and Qualitative Radiological Assessment of Sarcopenia and Cachexia in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

“…Differently, medical non-invasive imaging allows a precise measurement of body composition and holds the biggest potential in assessing the changing phenotype of sarcopenia and cachexia during the treatment journey [ 75 ]. The gold standard for the evaluation of changes in body composition is the analysis of tissue density using a CT scan at the level of the third lumbar vertebra, despite bone metastases originating from different primary tumors could determine bone changes [ 76 ]. This technique allows us to evaluate not only quantitative changes (i.e., sarcopenia) but also qualitative modifications, including myosteatosis [ 60 ].…”

Diagnostic Utility and Tendency of Bronchial and Serum Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation EndProducts (sRAGE) in Lung Cancer

“…Lung cancer is the second most frequent malignancy and the most lethal cancer worldwide [13]. Accurate diagnosis is essential in terms of both treatment and prognosis; various nonmalignant lesions including tuberculosis and pneumonia can be mistaken for lung cancer [14]. Tissue biopsy is most often used to confirm or exclude a malignant lesion.…”