Pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-AIDS patients

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases
• Mycology

Background:

• Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that can affect individuals without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• Understanding the clinical presentation and outcomes in non-AIDS patients is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical features, management strategies, and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in patients without AIDS.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current treatment modalities in this specific patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 24 non-AIDS patients with pathologically confirmed pulmonary cryptococcosis.
• Analysis of clinical data, including symptoms, comorbidities, radiological findings (chest CT), diagnostic methods (biopsy), treatment approaches (surgery, antifungal therapy), and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study included 24 patients (15 male, 9 female) aged 24-65 years, with 13 having comorbidities.
• Common symptoms included cough, chest tightness, expectoration, and fever. Chest CT revealed pulmonary nodules, masses, or consolidations, predominantly in lower lobes.
• Treatment involved surgery (9 patients) and/or antifungal therapy (fluconazole, voriconazole). No concurrent cryptococcal meningitis was observed.

Conclusions:

• Non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis exhibit a favorable prognosis when managed appropriately.
• Combined surgical resection and antifungal therapy appear effective, with no observed relapses or mortality in the follow-up period.