Clinical analysis of 31 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis

JIANG Qiufang; HAN Liping; BIAN Cuixia

Abstract：Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis and to improve the rec-ognition of the disease in the early stage,so as to reduce the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.Methods:The clinical data of 31 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis hospitalized in hospital from November 2018 to March 2023 were ret-rospectively analyzed,including the general information of the patients,the presence or absence of underlying disease,clinical manifestations,imaging features,diagnosis methods,treatment plans and prognosis.Results:In 31 cases of pul-monary cryptococcosis,the clinical manifestations were lack of specificity.The chest imaging findings were not typical,but mainly consisted of multiple or single nodules near the pleura.Among them,15 cases were diagnosed by the detec-tion of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen in serum,6 cases were diagnosed by the pathology of lung tissue af-ter surgical resection,and 5 cases were diagnosed by the pathology of lung biopsy,5 cases were confirmed by high-throughput second-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.29 patients improved after surgical resection or antifungal therapy,and two patients did not review chest imaging due to personal reasons.Conclusion:The clinical features and imaging findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis are lack of specificity.The detection of serum cryptococcosis capsular polysaccharide antigen has a high value in the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis,and most patients have a good prognosis.