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The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine
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Pleural effusion resembling a lung tumor: phantom tumor of the lung

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 28, pages 174–175 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

78-years- old female known case of Congestive Heart failure, with ejection fraction of 55% on recent echocardiograph, presented with complains of Shortness of breath, Cough and sputum without fever. She had stopped taking medications recently and examination showed patient in fluid overload. Conventional posteroanterior Chest radiograph revealed a mass like opacity in lower zone of the right lung while Lateral view radiograph showed cigar shaped opacity due to pleural effusion in oblique fissure of the right lung. Patient was given diuretics on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings and the rounded opacity disappeared on repeat radiograph. Thus the diagnosis of Phantom tumor of lung was made. It is therefore suggested to get a lateral chest radiograph and give a trial of diuretics in such cases before going for other investigations or surgical procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Indus Hospital, Phase 6 Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Soorih Shaikh MD, DHA & Sarwan Shaikh

Authors
  1. Soorih Shaikh MD, DHA
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  2. Sarwan Shaikh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soorih Shaikh MD, DHA.

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Shaikh, S., Shaikh, S. Pleural effusion resembling a lung tumor: phantom tumor of the lung. Egypt J Intern Med 28, 174–175 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-7782.203292

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-7782.203292

Keywords

  • congestive heart failure
  • diuretics
  • phantom tumor
  • pleural effusion