title: [Retrospective analysis of seven cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed as having pulmonary cryptococcosis in the past 15 years were retrospectively studied. Their demographic data, respiratory symptoms, diagnostic methods, chest radiograph, immune state, antifungal therapy and follow-up results were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty cases of cryptococcosis were diagnosed, of which 7 were diagnosed as having pulmonary cryptococcosis, one of them presented with concomitant meningitis. Of the 7 patients, 4 were male and 3 were female, with a median age of 41.8. All were HIV negative; one case was immunocompromised with a history of colon cancer and glucocorticoid therapy for 8 months, while others were immunocompetent. Three patients complained of low fever or cough and sputum, while 4 others presented no symptoms. The X-ray and chest CT showed unilateral or bilateral patches, nodules or cavities. The diagnosis was made by pathology and bacterial culture of sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Amphotericin B plus flucytosine were initially given to 4 patients, all of them developed liver and renal abnormalities to some degree after therapy. Three patients were given fluconazole or itraconazole initially. All the 7 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis responded favorably to antifungal therapy and the prognosis was good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically pulmonary cryptococcosis was less common than cryptococcal meningitis. Pathology and cryptococcal culture were essential to the diagnosis. For immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis, the prognosis was good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respirology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yuanjue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wenbing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Longyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weixun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Quancai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies