Lung masses are becoming more common, and although most are tumors, benign or malignant, some are not solid masses. Many pathologies can present as lung nodules, including lung cancers, hamartomas, lung abscesses, granulomas, and eosinophilic pneumonia, to name a few. A 40-year-old woman with a long history of smoking presented with cough and left-sided chest pain. After multiple imaging studies, she was thought to have a lung malignancy; however, multiple biopsies proved this was not the case. The histology reports of 3 to 4 biopsies at separate times indicated chronic inflammation ongoing in the lungs without any cancer cells present. She was treated for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia with a resolution of symptoms. The purpose of this case report is to discuss a case that was initially thought to be a lung mass but found to be chronic eosinophilic pneumonia manifesting as a lung mass.
1.
Wahidi, MM, Govert, JM, Goudar, RK, et al. Evidence for the treatment of patients with pulmonary nodules: when is it lung cancer? ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. 2nd ed. Chest. 2007;132(3 suppl):94S-107S.
Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline2.
Yao, D, Zhang, L, Wu, PL, et al. Clinical and misdiagnosed analysis of primary pulmonary lymphoma: a retrospective study. BMC Cancer. 2018;18(1):1-7. doi:
10.1186/s12885-018-4184-1. Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline3.
Pahal, P, Penmetsa, GK, Modi, P, Sharma, S. Eosinophilic Pneumonia.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537169/. Published May 2021. Accessed July 2, 2021.
Google Scholar4.
Malhotra, J, Malvezzi, M, Negri, E, Vecchia, CL, Boffetta, P. Risk factors for lung cancer worldwide. Eur Respir J. 2016;48:889-902. doi:
10.1183/13993003.00359-2016. Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline5.
Hendriks, LE, Hochstenbag, MM, Lalji, UC, Dingemans, AMC. A pulmonary abscess, beware of lung cancer! Respir Med CME. 2011;4(4):157-159. doi:
10.1016/j.rmedc.05.001. Google Scholar |
Crossref6.
Qu, YL, Liu, J, Zhang, LX, et al. Asthma and the risk of lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2017;8(7).
Google Scholar |
Crossref7.
Müller, FH. Tobacco abuse and lung cancer. Z. Krebs-forsch. 1940;49(1):57-85. doi:
10.1007/BF01633114. Google Scholar |
Crossref8.
Sisodia, J, Bajaj, S. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542329/. Published March 2021. Accessed July 2, 2021.
Google Scholar9.
De Giacomi, F, Vassallo, E, Yi, ES, Ryu, JH. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Causes, diagnosis, and management. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;197(6):728-736. doi:
10.1164/rccm.201710-1967CI. Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline10.
Travis, WD, Brambilla, E, Noguchi, M, et al. International association for the study of lung cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society international multidisciplinary classification of lung adenocarcinoma. J Thorac Oncol. 2011;6(2):244-285. doi:
10.1097/JTO.0b013e318206a221. Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline |
ISI11.
Wynder, EL, Graham, EA. Tobacco smoking as a possible etiologic factor in bronchiogenic carcinoma: a study of six hundred and eighty-four proved cases. J Am Med Assoc. 1950;143(4):329-336. doi:
10.1001/jama.1950.02910390001001. Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline |
ISI12.
Yankelevitz, DF, Gupta, R, Zhao, B, Henschke, CI. Small pulmonary nodules: evaluation with repeat CT—preliminary experience. Radiology. 1999;212(2):561-566. doi:
10.1148/radiology.212.2.r99au33561. Google Scholar |
Crossref |
Medline
Comments (0)