title: Endobronchial cryptococcosis:  a rare cause of lung collapse.
abstract: We encountered a 46-year-old immunocompetent male patient who presented with a right upper lobe collapse on a chest x-ray. A flexible bronchoscopic examination revealed an endobronchial mass emanating from the right upper lobe and obstructing the right mainstem bronchus. Bronchial washings and biopsy of the lesion were consistent with cryptococcal infection. The response to oral diflucan therapy was suboptimal. Subsequently, the patient underwent a successful bronchoscopic resection of this mass with the placement of an endobronchial stent. We report this rare case of endobronchial cryptococcal infection treated with a combination of an antifungal agent and bronchoscopic debulking.
authors.affiliation: *Port Huron Hospital, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Port Huron †Henry Ford Hospital, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Vasken
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Artinian
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dadayan
authors.forename: Vigil
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rahulan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoff