Immune-related Pulmonary Granulomas Mimicking Metastatic Lesions in a Lung Cancer Patient

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used in non–small cell lung cancer but can cause immune-related adverse events. FDG-avid pulmonary granulomas are unusual and may be mistaken for metastases. We report a 72-year-old man with mucinous adenocarcinoma treated with immunotherapy who developed new FDG-avid, well-circumscribed, round lung nodules, initially suspected as metastases. Biopsy revealed non-necrotizing granulomas, and the nodules regressed without corticosteroids. This case highlights a diagnostic pitfall during immunotherapy, where immune-related granulomas can resemble disease progression. Clinician awareness is essential to avoid unnecessary interventions and ensure appropriate management.

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Publication Details

Journal
Clinical nuclear medicine open.
Published
2026-05-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/nm9.0000000000000077
Primary Topic
Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Immune-related Pulmonary Granulomas Mimicking Metastatic Lesions in a Lung Cancer Patient

Maricel Corredor Marín, J Zhang, Yuliya Kitsel, Jia Wu et al.
Clinical nuclear medicine open.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
article

Immune-related Pulmonary Granulomas Mimicking Metastatic Lesions in a Lung Cancer Patient

Maricel Corredor Marín, J Zhang, Yuliya Kitsel, Jia Wu, Carol C. Wu, Xiaoyu Han
article en

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used in non–small cell lung cancer but can cause immune-related adverse events. FDG-avid pulmonary granulomas are unusual and may be mistaken for metastases. We report a 72-year-old man with mucinous adenocarcinoma treated with immunotherapy who developed new FDG-avid, well-circumscribed, round lung nodules, initially suspected as metastases. Biopsy revealed non-necrotizing granulomas, and the nodules regressed without corticosteroids. This case highlights a diagnostic pitfall during immunotherapy, where immune-related granulomas can resemble disease progression. Clinician awareness is essential to avoid unnecessary interventions and ensure appropriate management.

Clinical nuclear medicine open.Vol. 3(2)
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US), Thoracic Surgery Foundation (US), Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (NL)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
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