A case of nonmucinous pulmonary micropapillary adenocarcinoma mimicking pulmonary tuberculosis

Respir Investig. 2022 Jan;60(1):176-179. doi: 10.1016/j.resinv.2021.09.002. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Abstract

We report a rare case of nonmucinous pulmonary micropapillary adenocarcinoma mimicking pulmonary tuberculosis. A 68-year-old woman was hospitalized with hemoptysis. Her computed tomography revealed cavities and tree-in-bud appearance similar to the extensive form of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, histopathological findings of transbronchial biopsies of all lesions revealed adenocarcinoma and no pulmonary tuberculosis. Tree-in-bud appearance may relate to the floating micropapillary tufts in alveolar spaces. If pulmonary carcinoma is complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis, patients must be isolated and disadvantaged in cancer treatments. Therefore, recognizing this case may be therapeutically useful for respiratory physicians treating both diseases.

Keywords: Aerogenous metastasis; Nonmucinous pulmonary micropapillary adenocarcinoma; Pulmonary tuberculosis; Tree-in-bud appearance.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma* / diagnosis
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / diagnosis