open access

Vol 5, No 4 (2020)
Case report
Published online: 2020-11-04
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Case Study: Unlocking resemblance between tuberculosis and cancer

Sunita Kumari Yadav12, Ravi Yadav3
·
Medical Research Journal 2020;5(4):286-289.
Affiliations
  1. Daulat Ram College, Delhi University, 110007 Delhi, India
  2. Daulat Ram College/Delhi University, 4, Patel Marg, North Campus, 110007 Delhi, India
  3. IQVIA, 122018 Gurugram, India

open access

Vol 5, No 4 (2020)
CASE REPORTS
Published online: 2020-11-04

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has often been found to mimic malignancy in clinical and radiological features, and therefore it is well known as a diagnostic chameleon. Although the differences between pulmonary TB and lung cancer have been highlighted by several reports, TB often gets misdiagnosed as lung cancer and vice versa. It is therefore vital to discern the imaging results specific to pulmonary TB and its diverse forms to distinguish it from lung cancer. In the present study, a 72-year old female (HIV-negative, non-smoker), complaining of persistent cough, low chest pain, pain around kidneys and significant weight loss up to 8 kg in 4 months, was advised to undergo X-ray examination along with CT scan. The CT scan results showed manifestation of ill-defined lesions along the right main bronchus with partial atelectasis and multiple scattered centrilobular nodules in the right upper lobe. There was also a well-defined lesion at the left adrenal gland. Also, several sub-centimetre mediastinal nodes were found. The preliminary assessment by the doctor indicated lung cancer, and therefore PET scan was advised for further confirmation, also to detect any metastasis of malignancy if lung cancer is confirmed. PET scan results ruled out lung cancer; afterwards, the TB test (AFB smear) was recommended by the doctor. The final reports of the test results confirmed tuberculosis. However, this is not the only case where tuberculosis has been found to mimic lung cancer; there have been several case studies reporting misdiagnosis of TB. A correct diagnosis could only be achieved through high-imaging techniques or invasive examination. The present case expanded the clinical knowledge in the diagnosis of TB and also invigorated clinicians to consider pulmonary TB in the differential diagnosis and treatment. The study also accentuates the importance of 18FFDG-PET to differentiate TB from lung cancer.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has often been found to mimic malignancy in clinical and radiological features, and therefore it is well known as a diagnostic chameleon. Although the differences between pulmonary TB and lung cancer have been highlighted by several reports, TB often gets misdiagnosed as lung cancer and vice versa. It is therefore vital to discern the imaging results specific to pulmonary TB and its diverse forms to distinguish it from lung cancer. In the present study, a 72-year old female (HIV-negative, non-smoker), complaining of persistent cough, low chest pain, pain around kidneys and significant weight loss up to 8 kg in 4 months, was advised to undergo X-ray examination along with CT scan. The CT scan results showed manifestation of ill-defined lesions along the right main bronchus with partial atelectasis and multiple scattered centrilobular nodules in the right upper lobe. There was also a well-defined lesion at the left adrenal gland. Also, several sub-centimetre mediastinal nodes were found. The preliminary assessment by the doctor indicated lung cancer, and therefore PET scan was advised for further confirmation, also to detect any metastasis of malignancy if lung cancer is confirmed. PET scan results ruled out lung cancer; afterwards, the TB test (AFB smear) was recommended by the doctor. The final reports of the test results confirmed tuberculosis. However, this is not the only case where tuberculosis has been found to mimic lung cancer; there have been several case studies reporting misdiagnosis of TB. A correct diagnosis could only be achieved through high-imaging techniques or invasive examination. The present case expanded the clinical knowledge in the diagnosis of TB and also invigorated clinicians to consider pulmonary TB in the differential diagnosis and treatment. The study also accentuates the importance of 18FFDG-PET to differentiate TB from lung cancer.

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Keywords

tuberculosis, lung cancer, AFB test, PET scan, lesion

About this article
Title

Case Study: Unlocking resemblance between tuberculosis and cancer

Journal

Medical Research Journal

Issue

Vol 5, No 4 (2020)

Article type

Case report

Pages

286-289

Published online

2020-11-04

Page views

451

Article views/downloads

5124

DOI

10.5603/MRJ.a2020.0042

Bibliographic record

Medical Research Journal 2020;5(4):286-289.

Keywords

tuberculosis
lung cancer
AFB test
PET scan
lesion

Authors

Sunita Kumari Yadav
Ravi Yadav

References (9)
  1. World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis report 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO Geneva, 2019.
  2. Navid S, Arzhang S, Mirzaei A, et al. Misleading of the diagnosis of Mycobacterium attributed lung diseases to malignancy due to smear, culture and PCR negative results: A lesson from a case report. Indian J Tuberc. 2020; 67(3): 371–373.
  3. Hammen I. Tuberculosis mimicking lung cancer. Respir Med Case Rep. 2015; 16: 45–47.
  4. Aoki K. Excess Incidence of Lung Cancer among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 1993; 23: 205–220.
  5. Wu AH, Fontham ET, Reynolds P, et al. Previous lung diseases and risk of lung cancer among lifetime non-smoking women in the United States. Am J Epidemiol. 1995; 141: 1023–1032.
  6. Dacosta NA, Kinare SG. Association of lung carcinoma and tuberculosis. J Postgrad Med. 1991; 37(4): 185–189.
  7. Cicėnas S, Vencevičius V. Lung cancer in patients with tuberculosis. World J Surg Oncol. 2007; 5(1).
  8. Zhingel' IP, Tsimmerinov IE. [Diagnosis of cancer of the lung in patients with tuberculosis and subjects with post-tuberculosis changes of the lungs]. Probl Tuberk. 1989(6): 26–9?.
  9. Braude VI. High incidence of bronchogenic cancer in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Probl Tuberk. 1984; 4: 55–58.

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