Clinical characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with lung adenocarcinoma:Three case reports

摘要

BACKGROUND Pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is an invasive fungal disease caused mainly byCryptococcus (C.) neoformans or C. gattii. It may be present in immunocompetent orimmunocompromised patients. The radiographic features of PC vary, and themost common computed tomography manifestation is the presence of solitary ormultiple pulmonary nodules or masses distributed in the outer zone of the lungfield. The appearance of nodular or mass-like PC on computed tomography scansresembles that of primary or metastatic lung cancers, and differential diagnosis issometimes difficult. The coexistence of PC and malignant tumors is rarelyobserved.CASE SUMMARY This paper reports three cases of PC combined with lung adenocarcinomadiagnosed by video-assisted thoracic surgery lung biopsy, which weresuccessfully managed by early diagnosis and treatment.CONCLUSION The present case report might serve as a reminder not to neglect PC coexistingwith adenocarcinoma. Early diagnosis and treatment lead to a better prognosis.