A case of multiple pleural cryptococcosis without pleural effusion

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology
• Oncology

Background:

• Pulmonary cryptococcosis typically affects immunocompromised individuals.
• Radiological findings usually involve pulmonary parenchymal lesions, not pleural nodules.
• Multiple pleural nodules are an uncommon presentation of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Observation:

• A patient with a history of rectal cancer and follicular lymphoma presented with multiple pleural nodules.
• Computed tomography (CT) suggested malignancy recurrence or lymphoma dissemination.
• Thoracoscopic examination revealed pleural cryptococcosis.

Findings:

• The patient had multiple pleural cryptococcosis without pleural effusion.
• This presentation is extremely rare, differing from typical pulmonary cryptococcosis manifestations.
• Diagnosis was confirmed via thoracoscopic examination.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider pleural cryptococcosis in immunocompromised patients with multiple pleural nodules, even without effusion.
• Thoracoscopic exploration is crucial for definitive diagnosis of unexplained multiple pleural nodules.
• This case expands the understanding of cryptococcosis presentations in immunocompromised hosts.