DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG CANCER--ARE CYTOLOGIC STUDIES OF BLOOD AND BONE MARROW OF VALUE?

Pulmonary tuberculosis as differential diagnosis of lung cancer

Patients with lung cancer are often misdiagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis leading to delay in the correct diagnosis as well as exposure to inappropriate medication. Several factors are responsible for this situation in developing countries, including lack of awareness, inadequate infrastructure and socio-economic factors. This article outlines the differences between the two diseases as well as features that would make a clinician suspect the right diagnosis early.