title: Rheumatoid arthritis and the pulmonary nodule.
abstract: The potential difficulties offered by the presence of a solitary pulmonary nodule in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis are illustrated by a male non-smoker with clinical, serologic and radiographic rheumatoid arthritis, active and fibrosing alveolitis and a new lung nodule. This nodule proved to be squamous cell carcinoma without the typical risk factors. The findings of a solitary pulmonary density or nodule in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis provides no assurance that the lesion is benign. Both necrobiotic nodules and lung cancer may present as solitary pulmonary nodules in patients with this autoimmune disease.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed