title: Endobronchial cryptococcosis induced by Cryptococcus gattii mimicking metastatic lung cancer.
abstract: A 41-year-old previously healthy Japanese man complained of cough for 2 months. A chest computed tomography scan revealed a mass in his left lung with multiple mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed many small, enhancing lesions. He was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of an abnormal shadow suspicious for metastatic lung cancer. Bronchoscopy showed aggregated white nodes in the compressively stenosed left main bronchus. A specimen from transbronchial biopsy showed many foamy and yeast-like cells. Cultures and additional gene analysis identified these cells as C ryptococcus gattii. Antifungal treatment was commenced and his symptoms clearly improved. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an aggressive form of endobronchial cryptococcosis caused by C . gattii.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka, Japan ; Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
keywords: Cryptococcus gattii; endobronchial cryptococcosis; lung tumor; pulmonary cryptococcosis