Pulmonary infections imitating lung cancer: clinical presentation and therapeutical approach

Background Pulmonary infections occasionally present with infectious pseudotumour of the lung not easily distinguishable from true pulmonary neoplasm. In such cases, radiographic findings and clinical manifestation are highly suggestive of lung cancer. These inflammatory lung lesions cause significant diagnostic problems and appropriate therapy is often considerably delayed. We therefore report on our experience with infectious pseudotumour of the lung caused by bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal pulmonary infections.