Challenges in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis vs. lung cancer: A case report

Luo,Tao; Zhang,Shuiwang; Li,Xiaoliang; Huang,Mingxing

doi:10.3892/ol.2024.14627

Challenges in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis vs. lung cancer: A case report

Authors:
- Tao Luo
- Shuiwang Zhang
- Xiaoliang Li
- Mingxing Huang
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Affiliations: Central Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, P.R. China, Department of Tuberculosis, The Third People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, P.R. China
Published online on: August 13, 2024 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2024.14627
Article Number: 494
Copyright: © Luo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and certain types of lung cancer (LC), such as lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell undifferentiated carcinoma, are prevalent diseases that share similar clinical symptoms and imaging characteristics, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis. The present report documents the case of a man with a history of close contact with TB who exhibited clinical symptoms and lung CT scan findings that strongly indicated pulmonary TB. However, the diagnosis was ultimately confirmed to be lung adenocarcinoma on endoscopic biopsy. The present report shows that clinicians should always consider the possibility of LC in patients with TB‑related pulmonary pathological changes detected by imaging.

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