Granulomatous diseases of the lung that mimic respiratory infections.

Granulomatous diseases of the lung may have clinical, roentgenographic, and pathological features that closely mimic respiratory tract infections. The protean manifestations of sarcoidosis allow confusion with a wide variety of infectious diseases. Acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis closely mimics an infectious illness; even subacute or chronic presentations may be mistaken for infections. Less commonly, the manifestations of intravenous talc granulomatous disease may also mimic infection.