STUDY OF TWO CASES OF ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS COMPLICATED BY LUNG CANCER

In this study, we report on two patients diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis who later developed complications of lung cancer. In both instances, lung cancer was not detected until after cessation of tuberculostatic drugs. Both patients were initially considered to be experiencing exacerbation of pulmonary tuberculosis. Patient 1 was a 77-year-old female. A roentgenogram of her chest revealed a cavitary lesion with infiltration into the right lung field. Her sputum tested positive for acid-fast bacilli. Although she was treated with isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP) and streptomycin sulfate (SM), the RFP and INH treatments had to be discontinued due to liver dysfunction. Her general condition was deteriorated, and pleural effusion appeared on a subsequent chest roentgenogram. Primary squamous-cell lung cancer was confirmed by conducting a transbronchial biopsy. Patient 2 was a 59-year-old male. A roentgenogram of his chest revealed multiple cavitary lesions with infiltration into the bilateral lung field. His sputum also tested positive for acid-fast bacilli. Although he was treated with INH, RFP and SM, INH and RFP treatment had to be discontinued due to liver dysfunction and high fever. The shadow infiltrating the left lung field subsided, but a massive shadow appeared in the right lung field. Primary small-cell lung cancer was confirmed after conducting a sputum cytology. The patients was then administered cisplatin and etoposide. Patient 1 was diagnosed with lung cancer five months after being admitted to the hospital, and Patient 2 ten months after admission. Both patients succumbed due to lung cancer at seven and 26 months, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)