Isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient

In this study, we report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a patient presenting respiratory symptoms and a lung mass on the chest X-ray. The patient had no concomitant diseases, was seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus and was not receiving immunosuppressive therapy of any kind. The diagnosis was confirmed through transbronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage. The patient was treated as an outpatient with fluconazole (300 mg/day for six months), evolving to clinical improvement and partial regression of the lung mass, as seen on a second chest X-ray. The current case illustrates an unusual presentation of pulmonary cryptococcosis and raises questions regarding the therapeutic approaches proposed in the literature.