Pulmonary nodules in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: Which diagnostic approach is the most appropriate?

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary nodular excavation should firstly evoke tuberculosis or necrosis broncho-pulmonary tumor, particularly: epidermoid carcinoma. The case discussed here illustrated these difficulties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old woman was presented with a-three-year history of RA and a recent discovery of an excavated pulmonary nodule. Initial investigations focused on a rheumatoid origin. The evolution of the disease was worrisome and surgical exploration was deemed mandatory. The result was the discovery of a nodule of a malignant nature.

CONCLUSION: In this paper, we discussed the excavation of the pulmonary nodule, its diagnoses and management of the difficulties we encountered.