Malignant chemodectoma presenting as a miliary pulmonary infiltrate

Abstract

A case of malignant chemodectoma presenting as a miliary pulmonary infiltrate is reported and the literature reviewed. Initially, the patient's diagnosis was felt to be miliary tuberculosis, until a lung biopsy showed the typical characteristics of malignant chemodectoma. Eleven cases of malignant chemodectoma metastatic to the lung have been previously reported. Chemotherapy with actinomycin-D and vincistine reduced the size of the primary lesion, although there was no detectable change in the pulmonary lesions. This case illustrates another condition which must be added to the long list of diseases which may present as a diffuse pulmonary infiltrate.