Primary lung cancer in non-tuberculous upper lobe lesions.

Tuberculosis is not only the commonest infectious disease of the lungs in India, but it is also the most commonly overdiagnosed entity whenever upper lobe lesions are seen on a chest roentgenogram. Over a two year period (1990-1992), 150 non-tuberculous upper lobe lesions in high risk group patients (middle aged and elderly; chronic smokers) were investigated Sixty-two patients (41.3%) were found to have primary malignant tumours of whom 67.7% had squamous cell carcinoma. Routine screening for malignancy in high risk patients with non-tuberculous upper lobe lesions should be undertaken.