INFECÇÕES QUE MIMETIZAM CÂNCER: AVALIAÇÃO RETROSPECTIVA E PROSPECTIVA DE MICOSES E ACTINOMICETOSES

Infections that simulate neoplasia are uncommon. In a retrospective study we included all cases of histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus gattii, actinomycosis and nocardiosis mimicking malignancy. The sample consisted of 80 cases extracted from a population of 1,365 during the period 1981-2012. We review critically the cases reported at literature (n=67). Clinical and radiological features of pulmonary lesions in infectious diseases (especially granulomatous) and neoplastic diseases are alone not enough to give the differential diagnosis.