title: Endobronchial pulmonary cryptococcosis and tuberculosis in an immunocompetent host.
abstract: Pulmonary cryptococcosis presenting as an endobronchial tumour-like growth has rarely been described. We report the case of a male patient with normal immune function who presented with a right upper lobe mass lesion. Bronchoscopy revealed a tumour-like growth that completely occluded the anterior segment of the right upper lobe bronchus. Bronchial biopsy and computed tomography-guided lung biopsy revealed Cryptococcus, and culture of lung biopsy specimen grew Cryptococcus neoformans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient responded clinically to amphotericin B, fluconazole and anti-tuberculous therapy. However, chest radiographic response was unremarkable. A presentation of pulmonary cryptococcosis and tuberculosis, along with endobronchial tumour-like growth in the same patient, is unusual and has not been previously described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Christopher
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balamugesh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology