title: [Practical approach to an excavated pulmonary lesion].
abstract: The aim of this article is to suggest a practical approach when faced with an excavated lesion in a chest X-ray. This is a classic situation both in general practice and in emergency units. A rigorous diagnostic approach is necessary after eliminating the main differential diagnosis. The main diagnoses consist of lung cancer, tuberculosis and abscess. Bronchial endoscopy is essential, but can be misleading. The diagnosis of an excavated pulmonary lesion is not always easy. It must be established rapidly and treated as soon as possible.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, hôpital d'instruction des armées Clermont-Tonnerre, rue du Colonel-Fonferrier, 29200 Brest, France. helmi.bensaad@rns.tn <helmi.bensaad@rns.tn>
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paleiron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pegorie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quéré
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grassin
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis; D003663:Decision Trees; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis