Phantom Tumor of the Lung

This case report describes a 50-year-old man with a history of mitral-valve prolapse and remote Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented with dyspnea and signs of heart failure. Chest imaging revealed a sharply defined lenticular lesion in the right middle lung field alongside bilateral pleural effusions and retrocardiac opacity. Echocardiography showed severe mitral regurgitation with reduced ejection fraction (45%). After treatment with diuretics and vasodilators, follow-up radiograph showed resolution of the lung opacity, consistent with a diagnosis of phantom tumor, a loculated interlobar pleural effusion mimicking a mass. The patient underwent successful mitral-valve replacement and coronary revascularization, with favorable outcome at 1-month follow-up.

This case report describes a 50-year-old man with a history of mitral-valve prolapse and remote Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented with dyspnea and signs of heart failure. Chest imaging revealed a sharply defined lenticular lesion in the right middle lung field alongside bilateral pleural effusions and retrocardiac opacity. Echocardiography showed severe mitral regurgitation with reduced ejection fraction (45%). After treatment with diuretics and vasodilators, follow-up radiograph showed resolution of the lung opacity, consistent with a diagnosis of phantom tumor, a loculated interlobar pleural effusion mimicking a mass. The patient underwent successful mitral-valve replacement and coronary revascularization, with favorable outcome at 1-month follow-up.