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Case based discussion
Pulmonary aspergillosis: an alternative diagnosis to lung cancer after positive [18F]FDG positron emission tomography
  1. Caroline G Baxter1,2,
  2. Paul Bishop3,
  3. Su Enn Low4,
  4. Kweku Baiden-Amissah4,
  5. David W Denning1,2
  1. 1The National Aspergillosis Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK
  2. 2The University of Manchester and the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK
  3. 3Department of Histopathology, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK
  4. 4Department of Histopathology, Royal Oldham Hospital, Oldham, UK
  1. Correspondence to Caroline Baxter, 2nd Floor Education & Research Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK; caroline.baxter{at}manchester.ac.uk

Abstract

[18F]Fluorodexyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scans have significantly improved the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, but false-positive scans are known to occur due to inflammatory and infectious diseases. Recognition of the conditions leading to false-positive scans is important. Single or multiple pulmonary nodules, with or without cavitation, are classical findings in acute and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Clinical features of pulmonary aspergillosis are very similar to those of lung cancer. This report highlights pulmonary aspergillosis as an alternative diagnosis to lung cancer in patients with positive [18F]FDG PET scans and the need to strive for presurgical histological diagnosis.

  • Aspergillus lung disease
  • lung cancer
  • positron emission tomography
  • imaging/CT MRI etc

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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