From Wikidoc - Reading time: 2 minEditor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maria Fernanda Villarreal, M.D. [2]
Non-small cell lung cancer must be differentiated from other diseases that cause chronic cough, weight loss, hemoptysis, and dyspnea among adults such as tuberculosis, pulmonary fungal disease, lung abscess, and secondary metastases.
| Differential Diagnosis | Similar Features | Differentiating Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary tuberculosis | Chronic cough, weight loss, hemoptysis, nocturnal diaphoresis, dyspnea | In pulmonary tuberculosis, differentiating features include: resolution (or decrease in size) after medical therapy, patients age is usually younger, hemoptisis is an early feature, and CXR anatomical predilection for upper lobes |
| Lung abscess | Chronic cough, weight loss, hemoptysis, and dyspnea | In lung abscess, differentiating features include: acute or subacute onset, CXR anatomical predilection for upper lobes, and usually resolve with antibiotic |
| Pneumonia | Cough, fatigue, and dyspnea | In pneumonia, differentiating features include: high grade fever, good response to antibiotics, acute onset, predilection on CXR is consolidation, laboratory markers indicate infection |
| Fungal infection | Chronic cough, weight loss, hemoptysis, and dyspnea | In fungal infection, differentiating features include: CXR findings (air-cresecent sign), no response to antibioitcs, and mimcs tuberculosis |
| Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia | Chronic cough, weight loss, hemoptysis, and dyspnea | In chronic eosinophilic pneumonia , differentiating features include: parasite infection or medication exposure, and increased serum IgE levels |