Abstract:
Objective To analyze the CT findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.
Methods CT features and clinical data of 32 immunocompetent patients with histopathologically-proven pulmonary cryptococcosis were retrospectively and analyzed.
Results Of the 32 immunocompetent patients, there were mass/nodule pattern(75.0%,
n=24), pulmonary consolidation pattern(21.9%,
n=7) and the mixed type(3.1%,
n=1). In mass/nodule pattern, the occurrence rate of single solitary mass/nodule was 66.7%(
n=16), and the multiple mass/nodule was 33.3%(
n=8);in pulmonary consolidation pattern, the occurrence rate of single solitary was 14.3%(
n=1), and the multiple was 85.7%(
n=6). Of all the 15 multiple patients, the occurrence rate of unilateral lobar distribution was 66.7%(
n=10). In all sixty-nine measurable lesions, the peripheral distribution(66.7%,
n=46) and lower pulmonary distribution (50.7%,
n=35) were seen more. In 48 mass/nodule pattern, the occurrence rate of air-bronchogram sign was 62.5%(
n=30), include ⅢA(
n=13), ⅢB(
n=5), Ⅴ(
n=10), Ⅳ(
n=2), without Ⅰ/Ⅱ;Other findings included halo sign (41.6%), lobulation sign(29.2%), spicule sign(16.7%), cavity or vocule sign(12.5%) and pleural change(25.0%). In 21 pulmonary consolidation pattern, the CT findings included halo sign(85.7%,
n=18), pleural incrassation sign(76.2%,
n=16), cavity or vocule sign(38.1%,
n=8) and air-bronchogram sign(81.0%,
n=17), include ⅢA(
n=3), ⅢB(
n=12 patients), Ⅴ(
n=12), without Ⅰ/Ⅱ/Ⅳ.
Conclusion The pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients usually occurs in lower lobe near pleural, the mass/nodule pattern is the prevalent CT manifestation, the air-bronchogram sign(type ⅢA, Ⅴ) is the most common CT finding;the air-bronchogram sign(type ⅢB) is the characteristic findings of CT manifestationgs in pulmonary consolidation pattern.