Clinical and imaging characteristics of pulmonary mucormycosis

Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) presents with atypical clinical manifestations, making diagnosis challenging and leading to a high mortality rate. Therefore, this study aims to systematically compare the clinical symptoms, laboratory results, bronchoscopic features, and radiological characteristics between acute and chronic PM to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

This retrospective study analyzed patients diagnosed with PM at our hospital from January 2020 to August 2024. Disease classification was determined using bronchoscopy, imaging, and laboratory tests. Clinical data were collected, and statistical analysis was conducted to compare the clinical and imaging characteristics of acute and chronic PM cases.

A total of 31 patients with PM were included, comprising 20 acute cases and 11 chronic cases. Acute cases frequently presented with fever, bronchial edema, or masses and were commonly associated with diabetes. Chronic cases were more likely to present with hemoptysis, bronchial stenosis, and nodules within cavities, often coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Computed tomography revealed that cavities and bronchiectasis were more common in chronic cases, while laboratory tests showed significantly higher leukocyte and neutrophil counts in acute cases (P < 0.05, respectively).

This study highlights significant differences in clinical manifestations, bronchoscopy findings, and imaging characteristics between acute and chronic PM. Acute cases are frequently associated with diabetes, whereas chronic cases are more likely to be accompanied by PTB and present with cavities and bronchiectasis. These findings contribute to improved diagnostic accuracy.