title: Dog heartworm causing necrotizing granuloma of the lung.
abstract: Pulmonary dirofilariasis was diagnosed in a 70-year-old woman by tissue examination after she underwent a right thoracotomy. The preliminary clinical diagnosis was pulmonary coin lesion of probable neoplastic nature. Pulmonary dirofilariasis, caused by the dog heartworm, is occurring with increased frequency in the United States and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary coin lesions. We describe the clinicopathological features of this case with special emphasis on the gross examination of the specimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ladaga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cundiff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology