title: Not all that shines is cancer: pulmonary cryptococcosis mimicking lymphoma in [(18)] F fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography.
abstract: We report of a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis mimicking lymphoma in a positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan. A 62-year old man with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma had complete resolution of abdominal and pulmonary lesions after three cycles of rituximab-based chemotherapy (R-CHOP). However, FDG-PET showed new pulmonary nodules, suggesting active lymphoma. Chronic inflammatory granuloma was seen in the histopathological exam, with round-shaped structures compatible with fungus, later identified as Cryptococcus neoformans on culture. The lesions disappeared after 6 weeks of fluconazole therapy, and the patient could continue chemotherapy without further infectious complications.
authors: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Nelson
authors: N
authors: Hamerschlak
authors: Jacyr
authors: J
authors: Pasternak
authors: Jairo
authors: J
authors: Wagner
authors: Guilherme Fleury
authors: GF
authors: Perini
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18