Pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with lung adenocarcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

Wang,Hansheng; Chen,Xiao; Wang,Yunyun; Yu,Dan; Zhou,Yanhui; Liu,Yan; Tang,Yijun; Wang,Meifang

doi:10.3892/ol.2023.14179

Pulmonary cryptococcosis coexisting with lung adenocarcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

Authors:
- Hansheng Wang
- Xiao Chen
- Yunyun Wang
- Dan Yu
- Yanhui Zhou
- Yan Liu
- Yijun Tang
- Meifang Wang
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Affiliations: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China, Department of Laboratory, Shiyan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China, Department of Pathology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China
Published online on: December 7, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2023.14179
Article Number: 47
Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is an invasive pulmonary fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii. It often presents as a single nodule or mass on radiology, which is easily misdiagnosed as lung cancer or metastases. However, cases of PC coexisting with lung cancer are rare and when this scenario is encountered in clinical practice, it is easy to be misdiagnosed as metastatic lung cancer. The present study reported the case of a 65‑year‑old immunocompetent patient with PC coexisting with lung adenocarcinoma. Percutaneous lung biopsy was performed on the nodule in the anterior segment of the left upper lobe and the nodule in the posterior basal segment of the left lower lobe, which were diagnosed as primary adenocarcinoma and cryptococcus, respectively. Lung cancer was treated by surgery and PC was treated successfully by antifungal treatment. During the 5‑year follow‑up, contrast‑enhanced CT showed no recurrence of either disease. This case reminds us of the possibility of dualism in the diagnosis of multiple pulmonary nodules based on CT examination, such as the coexistence of lung carcinoma and PC. In addition, early diagnosis and treatment contribute to good prognosis.

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