Imaging techniques in the differential diagnosis of parasitic lung diseases and lung cancer

We analyzed imaging findings of 18 patients with atypical manifestations of parasitic diseases of the lung, who were admitted to the hospital with suspected lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. The common CT, MRT and US findings of parasitic lung disease are fluid-containing lesions, septal structures (echinococcosis, alveolar echinococcosis, cisticercosis), no evidence of bronchial involvement and the absence of contrast agent accumulation in the affected area (paragonimiasis, shistosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, pneumocystis). Real-time monitoring with dynamic CT is often critical for differential diagnosis between atypical manifestations of parasitic lung disease and cancer or secondary lung tumor.