An article by three local doctors has been published in the September edition of the European Respiratory Society journal, Breathe.

Medical Association of Malta general secretary Martin Balzan, Alain Vella and Gabriel Schembri discussed the case of a rare tumour which perfectly mimicked asthma during a physical examination as well as in laboratory tests.

When contacted, Dr Balzan said the publication of this article in a leading journal showed that postgraduate education at St Luke's Hospital was on a par with European standards.

Dr Balzan said the article was accompanied by high quality photos thanks to new, modern equipment ordered for Mater Dei Hospital.

"The images and the three- dimensional reconstructions not only helped in arriving at the correct diagnosis, but also helped in the publication of the paper in a leading scientific journal," he said.

Breathe is considered a leading resource for continued professional development and postgraduate training in respiratory medicine. The article was initially presented at an academic meeting at St Luke's Hospital last year.