Chonnam Med J.  1998 Dec;34(2):149-154.

A Case of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Confirmed by Transthoracic Fine Needle Aspiration in an Immunocompetent Host

• Hwang JH
• Kim YI
• Ko KH
• Rim MS
• Park CM
• Jang IG
• Lim SC
• Kim YC
• Kim KS
• Park KO

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is caused by cryptococcus neoformans, a thin walled, nonmycelial, budding yeast 4 to 6 micrometer in diameter that is characterized by a thick polysaccharide capsule. Cryptococcus neoformans is found in soil and other environmental areas, especially those contaminated by pigeon droppings. Cryptococcosis is acquired by inhaling aerosols containing the yeast. Cryptococcal infection results in self-limited pulmonary disease in most healthy persons, but meningoencephalitis is the most commonly recognized manifestation of cryptococcosis and the most common cause of death. We described a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis without specific underlying disease and the literature on subject were reviewed. A fifty year-old previously healthy female presented with coughing and left chest pain for 3 months of duration. She had no history suggesting immunologic suppression and we could not find any abnormal laboratory findings including blood sugar, serum immunoglobulin and complement level, HIV antibody, and T cell subsets. Chest roentgenogram showed soft tissue mass in left lower lobe and chest CT scan showed air-space consolidation in left lower lobe. The diagnosis was made by ultrasound guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration showing numerous fungal spores with polysaccharide capsule.

Keyword

Cryptococcosis; Transthoracic needle aspiration; Normal host

MeSH Terms

Aerosols
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Blood Glucose
Cause of Death
Chest Pain
Columbidae
Complement System Proteins
Cough
Cryptococcosis*
Cryptococcus neoformans
Diagnosis
Female
HIV
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Inhalation
Lung Diseases
Meningoencephalitis
Saccharomycetales
Soil
Spores, Fungal
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ultrasonography
Yeasts
Aerosols
Blood Glucose
Complement System Proteins
Immunoglobulins
Soil