INTERPULMONARY LYMPH-NODES IN THE DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF SOLITARY PULMONARY NODULES - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A 49-year-old man was admitted for further investigation of a coin les ion with a diameter of 1 cm. He was a heavy smoker with no professiona l exposure. Since the percutaneous needle biopsy did not yield a defin itive diagnosis, a thoracoscopy was performed. The solitary pulmonary nodule was found to be an intrapulmonary lymph node with anthracosilic otic pigment and a thoracoscopic wedge resection was performed. A revi ew of the case reports in the period 1951-1993 shows that intrapulmona ry lymph nodes could be more frequent than originally thought. All pat ients were smokers but professional exposure was not a constant findin g. The differential diagnosis and management of the indeterminate soli tary pulmonary nodule are discussed.