Lung Cancer with COVID-19: Symptom and Imaging Analysis-A Dilemma of Managing Multiple Comorbidities

Abstract

According to the World Health organization worldwide Covid -19 related infection is 500 million with 6 million deaths. However, Covid-19 cases and deaths has continued to decline since the end of March 2022, a 24% and 12% decline respectively [1]. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 patients are coughs, colds, fevers, flu-like symptoms, and severe pneumonia [2]. In addition, our patient presented with complications from his Co-morbidities, such as diabetes leading to diabetic foot and emphysematous osteomyelitis. The patient was diagnosed as COVID-Positive during his regular follow-up. Meanwhile, the patient developed respiratory symptoms with CT scan findings of presumptive lung cancer. It was a diagnostic dilemma to treat the current infections or treat the patient as having severe COVID-19 pneumonia. However, continuing antibiotics and planning for further workup on lung cancer were helpful in our case. Our follow-up parameters have monitored arterial blood gas, calcitonin level, and other inflammatory markers to exclude COVID-related causes. We present this case to establish the best possible treatment plan for symptomatic COVID patients with other extreme co-morbidities and respiratory symptoms.