What is the Difference Between Lung Cancer and Tuberculosis?

Lung cancer and tuberculosis (TB) are both diseases that affect the lungs, but they have different etiologies, consequences, and management. Here are some key differences between the two:

1. Causes: Lung cancer is primarily caused by tobacco smoking, while TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
2. Symptoms: Both diseases share common symptoms such as cough, fever, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and weight loss. However, the fever in TB is usually low-grade with evening rise, whereas lung cancer has non-specific fever.
3. Diagnosis: TB and lung cancer can be difficult to differentiate without proper diagnostic tests. In developing countries, patients with lung cancer are often misdiagnosed as having TB, leading to delays in treatment. Pathological examination, such as biopsy, is crucial for differentiating between the two.
4. Imaging Features: Conventional CT scans can help distinguish between TB and lung cancer, but the imaging features of mass-like TB can overlap with peripheral lung cancer, making differentiation challenging. Radiomics, which involves quantitatively evaluating the difference in texture characteristics between the central area and the edge of the mass, can be applied to differentiate between lung cancer and inflammatory granulomas.
5. Risk Factors: A history of tobacco smoking is generally present in cases of lung cancer, while it may be present or absent in TB. TB has been found to be significantly associated with adenocarcinoma but not with squamous or small cell lung cancer.
6. Complications: In some cases, TB can complicate lung cancer, and the pathogenesis of TB complicated with lung cancer may be due to chronic inflammation, immune regulation imbalance, and gene mutation caused by TB.

In summary, while both lung cancer and TB share similar symptoms and can be difficult to differentiate without proper testing, they have distinct causes and risk factors. Proper diagnosis, usually involving pathological examination, is crucial for accurate treatment and management.

Comparative Table: Lung Cancer vs Tuberculosis

Here is a table comparing the differences between lung cancer and tuberculosis:

Both diseases share similar symptoms, such as fever, cough, expectoration, hemoptysis, weight loss, and anorexia. However, they have different etiologies, consequences, and management approaches. Lung cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, while tuberculosis is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Diagnosis of lung cancer typically involves biopsy, imaging, and laboratory tests, whereas tuberculosis diagnosis relies on sputum detection of the bacteria and sometimes biopsy. Treatment for lung cancer may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy, while tuberculosis treatment typically involves antibiotics and sometimes surgery.