title: Pulmonary cryptococcosis mimicking methotrexate pneumonitis.
abstract: An 81-year-old man being treated with weekly low dose methotrexate (MTX) for psoriasis was admitted with a 2-month history of cough, shortness of breath and 7% eosinophilia in the peripheral blood. Chest roentgenogram revealed bilateral alveolar and interstitial infiltrates. Although the clinical presentation suggested MTX pneumonitis, a transbronchial lung biopsy established a diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Pulmonary cryptococcosis should be included in the list of infectious processes that can mimic MTX pneumonitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, NYVA Medical Center, NY 10010.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ittman
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D008727:Methotrexate