A case of intrapulmonary lymph node simulating small carcinoma of the lung

Abstract

A 48-year-old male was admitted for further examination of a coin lesion with a diameter of 8 mm seen on chest X-ray. The patient was a heavy smoker and his serum level of CEA was elevated to 29.8 ng/ml. Since the broncho-fiberscopic examination was not able to yield a definitive diagnosis, an operation was performed as lung cancer was suspected. According to the histological examination, the small nodule was diagnosed as an intrapulmonary lymph node with anthracosis and silicotic nodules. A review of the limited number of case reports shows that men are more prone to intrapulmonary lymph nodes, and that the patients were all smokers but not necessarily with occupational experience of exposure to silica.