Tumors that mimic diffuse parenchymal lung disease

Abstract A differential diagnosis for diffuse parenchymal lung disease can in some cases include primary tumors (such as lung cancer and carcinoid and nonepithelial tumors, including lymphoma) and metastatic lung tumors, because these often mimic the nontumor pathology of the lung tissue. CT findings typical of interstitial lung diseases, such as ground-glass opacity, reticular changes, and multiple cysts in the lungs, can also occur in some tumor processes. The similar CT semiotics of some tumor and nontumor lung lesions can give rise to errors, especially in an initial diagnosis based on clinical and X-ray characteristics of the infiltrative process in the lung tissue. In this chapter, we consider the features of the lung tumors that most often mimic diffuse pulmonary diseases.