Rheumatoid disease and bronchogenic carcinoma--case report and review of the literature

We describe a patient with a solitary pulmonary nodule that proved to be a rheumatoid nodule and a coexistent carcinoma. Similar cases from the literature are reviewed. Fine needle aspiration cytologies from such lesions are potentially misleading and must be interpreted cautiously. Pulmonary nodules in patients with rheumatoid arthritis clearly should be approached as possible carcinomas.