title: Solitary cavitary pulmonary nodule may be a common CT finding in AIDS-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have demonstrated that the most common chest radiologic finding in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is diffuse interstitial infiltrates. The aim of this study was to provide additional radiologic characterization of PC in AIDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  AIDS patients from the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Southeast University who were diagnosed with cryptococcosis between February 2009 and May 2012 and who had undergone chest computed tomography (CT) scans before or at the time of diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients met eligibility criteria. The median CD4 T-cell count was 23 cells/μl (range 2-79 cells/μl). Eleven patients had pulmonary abnormalities on imaging. Initial chest CT scans demonstrated solitary cavitary pulmonary nodules in 9 patients, pleural effusions in 2 patients, bilateral ground-glass opacities in 6 patients, patchy opacities in 1 patient, and bronchiectasis in 1 patient. Bilateral ground-glass opacities appeared to be associated with Pneumocystis pneumonia, while the presence of a pleural effusion was predictive of PC. Of the 9 solitary cavitary pulmonary nodules, 7 were PC and the other 2 were probable cases of PC. These nodules were predominantly in the peripheral lung and were either asymptomatic or caused only mild pulmonary symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Solitary cavitary pulmonary nodule may be a common CT finding in AIDS-associated PC. All AIDS patients with solitary cavitary pulmonary nodules on chest CT should be screened for Cryptococcus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of the Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chuanjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hongxia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yandan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Chunqin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed