A case of immunocompetent pulmonary cryptococcosis with special imaging findings and literature review
To improve the understanding of the special imaging features of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent individuals and reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis through the analysis of rare clinical cases and literature review.We reported a case of normal immunocompetent pulmonary cryptococcosis with pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19 weak positive nucleic acid during convalescence,CT scan of the lungs revealed rare features similar to pulmonary interstitial changes.Literature was reviewed to further discuss pulmonary cryptococcosis's clinical symptoms,imaging manifestations,diagnosis,and treatment outcome.The patient with severe aortic stenosis needed to be treated by surgery as soon as possible.Secondary pulmonary infection,subacute onset,and clinical manifestations were nonspecific,and empirical anti-infection treatment at the beginning of the disease was not effective.The timely revision of the examination confirmed that the predominant causative agent was Cryptococcus neoformans,and prompt administration of antifungal treatment facilitated surgical intervention and yielded favorable therapeutic outcomes.Literature review revealed that it is rare for pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients to present with pulmonary interstitial changes on CT findings.Pulmonary cryptococcosis presents with non-specific clinical symptoms and diverse imaging features,making it prone to mixed infection and requiring high vigilance.In this case,the immunocompetent patient's pulmonary CT findings exhibited changes resembling those in immunodeficient patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis.The underlying pathogenic mechanism needs to be further explored.