[Pulmonary cryptococcosis: analysis of nine cases].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis.


METHODS
A total of 9 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis, diagnosed at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2002 to August 2004, identified by pathological examinations, were retrospectively studied.


RESULTS
The patients consisted of 7 males and 2 females aged from 28 to 69 years. Pulmonary nodules, either solitary or multiple, present in 8 of the 9 cases, were the most common CT finding. The diagnosis was confirmed in all cases by pathological study. The lung specimens of 5 cases were obtained by CT guided transthoracic needle aspiration lung biopsy, and these 5 cases were treated with fluconazole, after 0.5 - 1 year of follow-up, the pulmonary lesion essentially vanished. The other 4 cases were confirmed after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Most pulmonary cryptococcosis presented as pulmonary nodules or masses on CT, either solitary or multiple. Pathology was essential to the diagnosis. Fluconazole is active against cryptococcus neoformans, and appears to be effective in the treatment.
Ying
Ke-jing
KJ
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Jiang
Li-bin
LB
Chen
En-guo
EG
Hong
Wu-jun
WJ
Jin
Mei
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies