Clinical study of 23 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2013.10.02

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical features , diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.Methods The medical data of 23 cases of proven pulmonary cryptococcosis were studied retrospec-tively.Results Twenty-three cases were anti-HIV negative, 21 cases(91.3%) were primary pulmonary cryptococco-sis and 2 cases( 8.7%) were secondary ones .Cough(13 cases, 56.5%)and chest pain (9 cases, 39.1%) were the most common symptoms.Subpleural nodule/mass(18 cases, 78.3%) in the lower lobes(12 cases, 52.2%)were common radiologic findings .The definite diagnostic techniques included surgical lung biopsy (12 cases, 52.2%) and CT guided percutaneous lung biopsy (10 cases, 43.5%).Ten patients received surgical resection lesions and 10 in-ternal patients were treated with fluconazole and 18 cases were cured .Conclusion Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis also occurs frequently .Radiologic findings can provide the clue for diagnosing pulmonary cryptococcosis .CT guided percutaneous lung biopsy is the most costless and efficient diagnostic technique .Most pulmonary cryptococcosis pa-tients respond well to fluconazole .