Objective: For the purpose to find the possible reasons causing pulmonary tuberculoma been misdiagnosed as lung cancer.
Methods: Clinical symptoms, chest X ray films, tomographic and CT manifestations as well as laboratory data of 42 cases of pulmonary tuberculoma pathologically proved were thoroughly reviewed. All the radiological appearances were compared with pathological findings.
Results: Shallow lobulated contour, spurlike shadow formation, vacoule sign, satellite lesions, pleural involvement, calcified spots were found very important for differential diagnosis of these 2 diseases.
Conclusions: It is difficult to differentiate pulmonary tuberculoma from lung cancer. By paying special attention to the above mentioned appearance, evaluating them very carefully and considering them with positive laboratory findings, it might be possible to avoid misdiagnosis before surgical operation.