title: [Disseminated pulmonary infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans in a non immunocompromised patient].
abstract: We report a case of a primary pulmonary infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans developed in a 40 Year old immunocompetent and HIV negative man. Radiologic findings consisted in diffuse, bilateral reticular and nodular opacities. Bronchoscopy was normal and bronchoalveolar lavage showed numerous macrophages without associated pathogens. A thoracovideoscopy with an open lung biopsy showed numerous cryptococci, free in the alveoli or located within the macrophages. They were associated with an inflammatory infiltrate in the interalveolar spaces, predominantly composed of mononuclear cells. Ultrastructural study showed yeasts with numerous intracytoplasmic organites, a nucleus, a wall and a thick capsule. Pulmonary cryptococcosis is rare in immunocompetent hosts and can be difficult to diagnose since clinicoradiologic features observed in this cryptococcal infection mimic other infectious or neoplastic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pathologie Clinique et Expérimentale, Hôpital Pasteur, Nice. hofman@unice.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Venissac
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mouroux
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butori
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mouroux
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hofman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B