History: 60 year old male with cough.
A lung mass is a focal opacity that measures greater than 3 cm. If it measures less than 3 cm and is the only lesion, it is classified as a solitary pulmonary nodule. Read this post for the differential diagnosis for a solitary pulmonary nodule.
The differential diagnosis for a lung mass is as follows:
1. Lung cancer – adenocarcinoma is the most common, and it commonly will have spiculated borders, a pleural tail, or thick walled cavitation. Read this post for a differential diagnosis for a cavitating lung mass.
2. Lung Metastases – most common in the lower lung zones due to hemondynamic factors, commonly multiple.
3. Mycobacterial, fungal pneumonia, or lung abscess
4. Pulmonary pseudotumor – loculated pleural fluid in a pulmonary fissure which is commonly lenticular in shape.
5. Round atelectasis – read this post regarding round atelectasis for a good case example.
Other less common entities on the differential for a lung mass include pulmonary AVM, hematoma, bronchogenic cyst, pulmonary sequestration, and hydatid cyst. This patient’s lung mass was an adenocarcinoma, a form of bronchogenic carcinoma.
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