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From Mimic to Diagnosis: Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Peripheral Airspace Opacities Mimicking Organizing Pneumonia

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1 Thoracic and Abdominal Consultant Radiologist, Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

2 Radiology Resident, Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia

3 Radiology Associate Consultant, Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia

4 Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia

5 Pulmonary Associate Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia

6 Consultant Cardiothoracic Imaging, Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma may occasionally present with radiographic features resembling organizing pneumonia (OP), resulting in diagnostic uncertainty, delayed recognition, and the risk of inappropriate management. We present a case of a 77-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease who developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Radiological findings initially suggested OP; however, histopathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma favoring a primary lung tumor. This case underscores a significant diagnostic pitfall and highlights the necessity of histological confirmation when encountering atypical radiologic features.

Main Subjects

Childhood
Java

Keywords

Lung Adenocarcinoma
Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma
Organizing Pneumonia
OP-like Pattern
Radiologic–Pathologic Correlation
Diagnostic Pitfall

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license

Volume 4, Proceeding of the 16th Annual Meeting of Radiology Society of Saudi Arabia (RSSA)

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Pages 92 - 99

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