title: A rare case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis with a growing pulmonary nodule after migrating infiltration shadows, mimicking primary lung carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare pulmonary parasitic infection by the nematode Dirofilaria immitis. It is characterized by an asymptomatic pulmonary nodule usually seen on chest X-ray. The differential diagnosis of pulmonary dirofilariasis includes other pulmonary diseases, primary lung carcinoma and metastatic lung tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulmonary dirofilariasis was diagnosed in a woman who presented with interstitial pneumonia. Growth of the pulmonary nodule was detected subsequent to hemoptysis. The histological diagnosis was made based on a wedge resection performed under video-associated thoracic surgery (VATS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary dirofilariasis often varies in its clinical course. The diagnosis is best made using wedge resection under VATS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nakatsu Municipal Hospital, Japan; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, Japan. Electronic address: aharo@surg2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadafumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagashima
keywords: Interstitial pneumonia; Primary lung carcinoma; Pulmonary dirofilariasis