Dermatomyositis and chest radiography leading to the diagnosis of lung cancer and subsequent confusions in staging due to the presence of tuberculosis

Summary

This clinical scenario describes dermatomyositis as a presenting feature of carcinoma of the lung. However, the coincident existence of tuberculosis in the opposite lung gave rise to a false impression of contralateral lung metastasis and hence confusions with regard to staging ensued, which were clarified after further investigation confirmed a unilateral lung adenocarcinoma and contralateral tuberculosis. The patient was initiated on oral antiepidermal growth factor receptor therapy with erlotinib, as well as on multi-drug therapy for tuberculosis. This report intends to illustrate that paraneoplastic syndromes such as dermatomyositis can be the presenting feature of lung cancer, and also that the co-incident presence of carcinoma and tuberculosis can cause confusions with regard to staging and management.