Abstract

Pseudotumor pulmonary tuberculosis is a rare entity that mimics bronchogenic carcinoma especially in smokers, which may lead to diagnostic difficulties, delaying early and adequate management.Thirty-eight patients were collated in the department over a period from January 2013 to July 2022. The mean age was 51 years with a male predominance of 79%. A history of active smoking was found in 92% of patients, 10% of patients reported a recent tuberculosis infection. Chest radiography showed a tumor-like opacity projecting to the apex (18 cases), hilum (9 cases), lower lobe (6 cases), axilla (2 cases), a nodular opacity in two cases and a balloon-like image in one case. Chest CT showed a tissue process in 35 cases, a spiculated nodule in the upper lobe in 2 cases, a balloon-like image in 1 case, associated with mediastinal adenopathies in 15 cases, perilesional micronodules in 7 cases, pleural effusion in 4 cases, soft tissue invasion in 1 case. Flexible bronchoscopy showed bronchial inflammation in 14 cases, fleshy bud in 4 cases, and stenosing infiltration, extrinsic compression, spur thickening, and bronchial thickening in 1 case each, and a substantially normal endoscopic appearance in the remaining cases. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by bacteriological examination in 12 cases and by histological examination in 21 cases. The diagnosis was retained on presumptive elements in 5 cases. The evolution under anti-bacillary treatment was favorable in all cases except one case.Pseudotumor tuberculosis is characterized by a great diversity of its clinical, radiological and endoscopic expression which can mimic a bronchogenic carcinoma which makes its diagnosis difficult and often late, especially in the case of negative bacilloscopy