# RT-PCR Misdiagnosis of Patient with Rare EGFR Mutation Lung Adenocarcinoma: Is NGS the Only Solution?

**Authors:** Piotr Piekarczyk, Urszula Lechowicz, Janusz Szopiński, Mateusz Polaczek, Katarzyna Błasińska, Katarzyna Modrzewska

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15070842 · Diagnostics · 2025-03-25

## TL;DR

A patient with a rare EGFR mutation in lung cancer was misdiagnosed using a single-gene test, highlighting the need for more comprehensive sequencing methods like NGS.

## Contribution

Highlights a clinical case where NGS could have improved diagnosis and treatment for a rare EGFR mutation in lung cancer.

## Key findings

- RT-PCR misdiagnosed a patient with a rare EGFR mutation in lung adenocarcinoma.
- NGS could have provided a more accurate diagnosis and enabled appropriate targeted therapy.
- Immunotherapy was ineffective due to the misdiagnosis.

## Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Molecular testing plays a crucial role in lung cancer diagnosis and management. While single-gene tests (SGTs) remain an important diagnostic tool, developments in novel methods such as next generation sequencing (NGS) provide a more precise mutational profile and enable the targeted treatment of a larger scope of mutation-driven cancers. Case presentation: We present a case of a patient with a rare EGFR variant lung adenocarcinoma, who was misdiagnosed using a SGT. The initial treatment with immunotherapy was unsuccessful. Conclusions: The patient could have benefited if NGS had been performed instead of traditional real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and if adequate tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment was initiated at the time of diagnosis.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956]
- **Diseases:** lung cancer (MONDO:0005138), lung adenocarcinoma (MONDO:0005061)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}
- **Diseases:** cancers (MESH:D009369), lung cancer (MESH:D008175), Lung Adenocarcinoma (MESH:D000077192)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11988652/full.md

## References

24 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11988652/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11988652