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Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report

Pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Authors: Liyang Li, Liang Zhuang, Jian Zhou, Changzhou Shao

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a common fungal infection frequently seen in immunocompromised patients. Owing to its nonspecific clinical and radiographic features, the differential diagnosis with secondary tuberculosis, malignant tumor, and bacterial pneumonia is sometimes difficult. Many case reports have focused on misdiagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis as a malignant tumor. But to the best of our knowledge, the coexistence of pulmonary cryptococcosis and malignant tumor is rarely presented.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old immunocompetent Han Chinese woman was presented to our emergency department complaining of headache and vomiting accompanied by postural changes. She was diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis according to results of laboratory tests, computed tomography, and percutaneous lung biopsy. Owing to the poor therapeutic effects of 6-month fluconazole treatment, she underwent a second percutaneous lung biopsy and was diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with adenocarcinoma. Delayed treatment of malignant tumor resulted in lymph node metastasis, higher pathologic stage, and probably poorer prognosis.

Conclusions

Our patient’s case serves as a reminder not to misdiagnose pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with adenocarcinoma.
Literature
9.
go back to reference Robinson TD, Barnes DJ, Watson GF. Coexistent cryptococcosis and carcinoma within a solitary pulmonary nodule. Aust N Z J Med. 1999;29(4):561–2.CrossRef Robinson TD, Barnes DJ, Watson GF. Coexistent cryptococcosis and carcinoma within a solitary pulmonary nodule. Aust N Z J Med. 1999;29(4):561–2.CrossRef
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Metadata
Title
Pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature
Authors
Liyang Li
Liang Zhuang
Jian Zhou
Changzhou Shao
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-018-1853-2

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