Not all lung masses in smokers are malignant: A rare case of Anthracosis mimicking Lung cancer

Anthracosis and Lung cancer may present with similar clinical features such as Dyspnea, cough, and hemoptysis. A chest X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) scan may reveal a lung mass in both conditions, leading to a misdiagnosis. In this case report, we present a 60-year-old female smoker who was initially diagnosed with Lung cancer based on clinical and radiological findings. The lung mass was found to be anthracosis after a bronchoscopy and confirmed by histopathological examination. Thus, we emphasize that overreliance on a single diagnostic modality may lead to a false diagnosis, and a more comprehensive approach is necessary.