title: A case of Dirofilaria pulmonary infection coexisting with lung cancer.
abstract: Dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm, may accidentally infect humans and manifest as a subpleural solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules that are often difficult to differentiate from primary or metastatic lung tumors. Our patient had biopsy proven lung cancer and a second lesion found to be pulmonary dirofilariasis after excision. The coexistence of pulmonary infection and cancer must be considered whenever 2 or more lesions have different clinical and radiologic behavior. Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare cause of lung nodules and may be present with lung cancer even more infrequently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Unit 402, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 402, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Eduardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mulanovich
authors.forename: Victor E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Mulanovich
authors.forename: Kenneth V I
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rolston
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000150:complications*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents