Lung Cancer With Huge Intratumoral Lung Abscess

A Lung Abscess on CT Scan: Think of Lung Cancer

“…Patients presenting with lung abscess have associated lung cancer in 7 to 36% of cases depending on patients' age and prior exposure to lung cancer risk factors. [1,2] Men account for 60% of all lung cancer cases, and smoking is the predominant risk factor associated with lung cancer, accounting for an estimated 80-90% of all cases of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer increases as the number of cigarettes and duration of smoking increases.…”

“…An irregular internal wall is found more frequently in malignant cavitary nodules than in benign ones when analyzing a CT. [1] Fine needle aspiration with cytological analysis may yield a faster diagnosis of an underlying malignancy. [2] Definitive diagnosis of lung cancer and lung cancer type can only be made by pathology using a cytologic or surgical biopsy specimen. Cytologic specimens can be obtained through sputum, bronchoscopy or transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy while histologic biopsy specimens can be obtained from endobronchial, transbronchial, transthoracic, or open biopsy procedures.…”

“…The underlying lung cancer can be overlooked, and patient placed on long treatment with antibiotics with valuable time lost in making a diagnosis of a malignant cancer. [1,2] Physicians should have a high suspicion for lung cancer whenever there is a radiographic diagnosis of lung abscess especially in patients with risk factors for lung cancer. We present a case of lung cancer that was initially diagnosed as a case of lung abscess and treated with antibiotics without clinical improvement.…”