Dermatomyositis and chest radiography leading to the diagnosis of lung cancer and subsequent confusions in staging due to the presence of tuberculosis

This clinical scenario describes dermatomyositis as a presenting feature of carcinoma of the lung. However, the coincident existence of tuberculosis in the opposite lung gave rise to a false impression of contralateral lung metastasis and hence confusions with regard to staging ensued, which were cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ Case Reports 2012, Vol.2012
Main Authors: Revannasiddaiah, Swaroop, Gupta, Manoj Kumar, Rastogi, Madhup, Kesari, Avinash Arjun Rao, Seam, Rajeev Kumar, Gupta, Manish, Chauhan, Suneel, Madabhavi, Irappa
Format: Report
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This clinical scenario describes dermatomyositis as a presenting feature of carcinoma of the lung. However, the coincident existence of tuberculosis in the opposite lung gave rise to a false impression of contralateral lung metastasis and hence confusions with regard to staging ensued, which were clarified after further investigation confirmed a unilateral lung adenocarcinoma and contralateral tuberculosis. The patient was initiated on oral antiepidermal growth factor receptor therapy with erlotinib, as well as on multi-drug therapy for tuberculosis. This report intends to illustrate that paraneoplastic syndromes such as dermatomyositis can be the presenting feature of lung cancer, and also that the co-incident presence of carcinoma and tuberculosis can cause confusions with regard to staging and management.
ISSN:1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5585