1. Differential diagnosis of lung nodules: breast cancer metastases and lung tuberculosis.
- Author
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Endri M, Cartei G, Zustovich F, Serino FS, and Fassina A
- Subjects
- Aged, Androstadienes therapeutic use, Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal therapeutic use, Breast Neoplasms complications, Breast Neoplasms drug therapy, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast complications, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast drug therapy, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast surgery, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Lung Neoplasms drug therapy, Lymphatic Metastasis, Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent drug therapy, Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent surgery, Recurrence, Tamoxifen therapeutic use, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary complications, Breast Neoplasms surgery, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast secondary, Estrogens, Lung Neoplasms secondary, Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent secondary, Progesterone, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary diagnosis
- Abstract
In a follow-up a 74-year-old woman with breast cancer (clinical stage T4N1M0 at onset, treatment by surgical resection and tamoxifen) presented a combination of two distinct diseases in the lung: breast cancer metastasis and tuberculosis. A CT scan showed multiple pulmonary nodular lesions and in only one lesion fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) diagnosed tuberculosis. After specific antibiotic therapy, isoniazide and rifampin, a CT scan highlighted disappearance of tubercular lesion. Because occurrence of tuberculosis during chemo or hormone therapy for metastatic breast cancer is rare, the present case is noteworthy. Indeed, it is worth pointing out the differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodular lesions in patients with cancer and the possible reactivation of tuberculosis even in patients without specific symptoms, without typical tubercular radiological features.
- Published
- 2010