title: Pulmonary infarct cytologically mimicking adenocarcinoma of the lung.
abstract: We describe a patient who underwent a right lower lobectomy for a lung lesion with a preoperative diagnosis of adenocarcinoma made on sputum cytology. Pathologic assessment of the resected specimen revealed a pulmonary infarct with no evidence of malignancy. All thoracic surgeons should be aware of this diagnostic pitfall. A positive sputum specimen should not always be regarded as definitive evidence of malignancy. Instead a full assessment of all available information should be made if unnecessary surgery is to be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland. roger.lawther@talk21.com
authors.forename: Roger E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lawther
authors.forename: Alastair N J
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: W Glenn
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: McCluggage
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McGuigan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*