title: Intrapulmonary lymph nodes in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: A 49-year-old man was admitted for further investigation of a coin lesion with a diameter of 1 cm. He was a heavy smoker with no professional exposure. Since the percutaneous needle biopsy did not yield a definitive diagnosis, a thoracoscopy was performed. The solitary pulmonary nodule was found to be an intrapulmonary lymph node with anthracosilicotic pigment and a thoracoscopic wedge resection was performed. A review of the case reports in the period 1961-1993 shows that intrapulmonary lymph nodes could be more frequent than originally thought. All patients were smokers but professional exposure was not a constant finding. The differential diagnosis and management of the indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodule are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Schil
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corthouts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Meerbeeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramael
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanmaele
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Marck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eyskens
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed