title: Asymptomatic pulmonary nodules in a patient with early-stage breast cancer: Cryptococcus infection.
abstract: In breast cancer patients, pulmonary nodules are frequently considered a metastatic disease or primary lung tumor. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman with early-stage breast cancer (T1micN0M0) presenting with asymptomatic pulmonary nodules in the left upper lobe at follow-up 6 years after she underwent a mastectomy. A presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis was made, and the patient underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Pathology showed granulomatous inflammation with Cryptococcus infection. Subsequently, antifungal therapy was prescribed, and full recovery followed. We demonstrate the importance of differentiating between pulmonary Cryptococcus infection and metastasis in breast cancer patients for correct management. The relationship between pulmonary Cryptococcus infection and breast cancer is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, 325, Cheng-Kung Rd, Sec. 2, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuang-Wen
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Kuo-Feng
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yeung-Leung
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Giu-Cheng
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Huan-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jyh-Cherng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D015725:Fluconazole