2009 Volume 23 Issue 2 Pages 208-212
We present three cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis. An abnormal chest shadow was detected on annual screening in all cases. FDG-PET was performed in all cases, and showed the accumulation of FDG. The standard uptake value (SUV) ranged from 0.98 to 4.70. Wedge resection or segmentectomy was performed in all cases to facilitate a pathological diagnosis revealing Cryptococcus fungal bodies. After surgical resection, no sign of relapse has been seen in any of the patients. There are some cases negative for serum antigen in immunocompetent patients. It has been reported that chest CT findings and the accumulation of FDG do not make it easier distinguish pulmonary cryptococcosis from malignancy. Surgical resection is recommended for both the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis.
