OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to describe CT findings of miscellaneous pulmonary conditions that mimic lung cancers, especially primary cancers, to improve diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. Brief descriptions of patient clinical information and pathologic findings will be included and correlated with imaging findings in actual cases.

CONCLUSION. A wide variety of pulmonary conditions present imaging features that mimic those of primary lung cancers and are difficult to differentiate from cancer. Awareness of these conditions with an understanding of their pathologic background and careful attention to the clinical information will help achieve correct diagnoses.

This large retrospective study analysed the effect of 33 autoimmune disorders on the risk of developing pulmonary emboli (PE). Five hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred and thirty-seven patients in Sweden with an autoimmune disorder initially diagnosed on hospital admission were identified and retrospectively analysed for PE, between 1964 and 2008.

Risk of PE increased across all age groups in the first year post admission. Risk gradually decreased after hospitalisation but remained above the control group at 10 years post admission. Length of stay did not affect the risk. The thrombotic risk may have been related to active inflammation, side effects of the autoimmune treatment and/or immobilisation. The study postulated that the fall in risk over time was attributable to the inflammatory activity of autoimmune conditions decreasing with effective treatment. Overall risk of PE was lower during 1989–2008 than during 1964–1988. Interestingly, no difference was seen after the introduction of...

There has been much research providing inconsistent evidence for a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and chronic conditions, such as coronary artery disease, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. It is known that vitamin D plays an integral role in the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, which serves a critical function in mammalian innate immune defence against invasive bacterial infection. As such, it has been hypothesised that low levels of vitamin D may be important in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in which there is an abnormal inflammatory reaction to inhaled particles and a reduced immune response.

In this study, the authors recruited 182 patients into a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial exploring vitamin D supplementation and COPD exacerbations. One hundred and fifty patients completed the study. Patients recruited were either current or former smokers over the age of 50 years, with a diagnosis of moderate to severe COPD. They were randomised...

Mast cells and basophils are key players in the IgE-dependent allergic response. These cells trigger an inflammatory cascade by secreting numerous preformed pro-inflammatory chemical mediators such as histamine, proteases and cytokines into the blood. Histamine-releasing factor (HRF), found in nasal, skin blister and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, is a protein secreted by macrophages that can stimulate histamine, interleukin 4 and IL-3 production from IgE-sensitised basophils and mast cells. Despite considerable efforts, research has failed to identify a HRF receptor. However, HRF is known to have intracellular and extracellular functions, with the latter implicated in late-phase allergic reactions and chronic inflammation.

This study identified a subset of IgE and IgG antibodies as HRF-interacting molecules in vitro. Through complex molecular research techniques it was confirmed that HRF together with HRF-reactive IgE triggered mast cell activation in vitro, confirming its pro-inflammatory role. Specific HRF inhibitor peptides were also characterised. Through several different intricate...