A Case of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in an Immunocompetent Patient

Keimyung Medical Journal 2006;25(1):63-69.

정상 면역기능을 가진 환자에서 발생한 폐크립토콕쿠스증 1례

최우영; 김경찬; 김현숙; 성명준; 현대성; 이상채; 정경재; 배종엽

Abstract

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is an uncommon disease caused by the inhalation of Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcal infection can disseminate through the blood which lead frequently to meningoencephalitis; especially in patients with profound cellular immune deficiency such as human immunodeficiency virus infection. Here; we report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a 60-year-old male patient who was immunocompetent and had no apparent predisposing factors such as organ transplantation; prolonged corticosteroid treatment; hematologic malignancy and diabetes. Radiologic examination revealed air-space consolidation and nodules with cavitations. Many yeasts with capsules were found in specimens obtained through percutaneous needle aspiration. Based on these features; the patient was diagnosed as pulmonary cryptococcosis and underwent the treatment with antifungal agent; fluconazole; for 6 months which resulted in improvement of clinical manifestation.

Key Words: Fluconazole, Immunocompetent, Pulmonary cryptococcosis