Three Cases of Misdiagnosed Lung Infection as Lung Cancer—October 26, 1995

Three Cases of Misdiagnosed Lung Infection as Lung Cancer—October 26, 1995

Mr. Dong is an old friend of mine. In the spring of the Year of the Water Pig, he developed a cold, coughing, chest tightness, and blood-tinged sputum. A local X-ray confirmed lung cancer, so he came to Lanzhou seeking my diagnosis. Upon reviewing the X-ray, I noted that the density and structure of the shadow were not very typical, and recommended initial treatment with high-dose antibiotics for observation, along with Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang combined with Xie Bai San, Ting Li Da Zao Xie Fei, and Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin plus Yu Xing Cao. After one month of medication, the patient’s spirits improved markedly, appetite increased significantly, and weight gained. A follow-up X-ray showed normal findings. Director Wang Hongen of the Jingtai Irrigation District had a shadow on his right-lung X-ray. Before leaving for the United States, he sought my diagnosis. After examining the film, I determined it was an infection rather than a tumor, and initially treated him with Su Xing San combined with Ma Xing Gan Shi, Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, and Xie Bai San, followed by Penicillin VⅠ and Metronidazole. Within ten days, all symptoms subsided, and Wang happily departed for the U.S. He returned after a month and was hospitalized for over a month, during which time the lesions on the X-ray completely disappeared. Throughout the entire course of illness until recovery, the patient never experienced fever or cough. Mr. Li Ruxiong, husband of my former classmate Huang Yue, was diagnosed with right-lung cancer via X-ray and CT scan at the General Hospital of the Army and received treatment there for more than two months, also being diagnosed as having lung cancer. When he sought my diagnosis, he had lost weight and his complexion was darkened. The patient had a history of diabetes and occasional colds and coughs. I believed the patient had recurrent lung infections, with atypical shadows on the chest X-ray, making the possibility of a pseudotumor difficult to rule out. Therefore, I initiated treatment with high-dose antibiotics. After one month, the lesions in the lungs had changed significantly, and a subsequent CT scan suggested tuberculosis. However, I judged that the patient did not exhibit symptoms of tuberculosis intoxication, the lesions were moving downward, and there were no calcification points, so tuberculosis was temporarily ruled out. Thus, the treatment for this case should still primarily focus on antibiotics, supplemented by traditional Chinese medicine. After more than two months, the patient fully recovered and was discharged.