Lung Cancer presenting as Pneumonia in Pregnancy

Abstract

A 37 year old female with B human chorionic gonadotropin(B-HCG) secreting occult lung carcinoma presenting with cough, dyspnoea and CXR infiltrate was diagnosed as having pneumonia till she presented few months later with advanced disease. Lung Cancer could secrete various hormones including B HCG, Anti diuretic hormone, Para thyroid hormone related peptide (1, 2, 3). Young females presenting with suspicious infiltrate on Chest X ray and who need CT scan of the chest are likely to have Urine pregnancy tests which being B-HCG based is likely to be positive in B HCG secreting Lung cancer. These could delay a potentially important investigation and lead to misdiagnosis and early closure. Though this confusion is logical it has so far not been reported for Lung cancer to be diagnosed as having pneumonia in pregnancy only to be subsequently diagnosed as having Large cell Lung Cancer. It is thus important to consider Lung cancer with B-HCG secretion as an important differential in young females with similar presentation as it could have long term implications in patients' management.