title: [Clinical studies of sixteen cases with pulmonary cryptococcosis mainly with respect to serum level of cryptococcal antigen].
abstract: Clinical studies of sixteen cases with pulmonary cryptococcosis, during the past six years between 1998 and 2004, were peformed mainly with respect to serum cryptococcal antigen titer. Serum cryptococcal antigen was positive in twelve of 16 cases, the other three cases were diagnosed by VATS, the other one by positive culture of cryptococcus in BALF. In these twelve cases, the serum cryptococcal antigen titer was continuously tested after treatment. The serum cryptococcal antigen titer decreased from half to 6 months after treatment. And the cryptococcal Ag changed to negative in six of the 12 cases by antifungal agents from 5 to 19 months. But four cases whose pneumonia was severe tended to have a high titer level of cryptococcal antigen and were positive for a long period. In the Chest CT of four pulmonary cryptococcosis case with negative cryptococcal antigen, all of the maximum nodule size was less than or equal to 15mm in diameter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Nagasaki Municipal Hospital.
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dohtsu
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishimatsu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takatani
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohara
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirakata
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal