Pulmonary cryptococcosis masquerading as lung metastasis in gynecologic cancers: Two case reports

Abstract

Rationale: Pulmonary cryptococcal infections occur mainly in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with malignancies. Preoperative diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) can be challenging for both clinicians and radiologists because of nonspecific clinical manifestations and variable radiologic features, as it is easily misdiagnosed as metastatic lung cancer.

Patient concerns: In case 1, a 76-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer presented with lung nodules detected on chest computed tomography (CT) 13 months after completing concurrent chemoradiotherapy. In case 2, a 56-year-old woman with a history of ovarian cancer presented with pulmonary nodules on chest CT 19 months after completing chemotherapy. Both patients were clinically asymptomatic, and tumor markers were not elevated.

Diagnoses: In case 1, chest CT revealed multiple enhanced nodules with lobulated margins in the left lower lobe, and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT showed uptake in the nodule with a standardized uptake value of 3.7. In case 2, chest CT revealed several nodules in the right upper lobe abutting the right major fissure, and PET-CT revealed fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the nodules. Pathology revealed granulomatous inflammation with cryptococcal infection, and mucicarmine and periodic acid-Schiff staining confirmed cryptococcal infection in both cases.

Interventions: Presumptive diagnoses of lung metastases were made in both cases and thoracoscopic lobectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patients received antifungal therapy with fluconazole.

Outcomes: PC was differentially diagnosed and effectively managed. The patients remained disease-free for both PC and gynecological cancers during subsequent follow-ups.

Lessons: Recognition that PC can mimic lung metastasis is important for managing gynecological cancers. PC should be considered in the differential diagnosis when single or multiple nodules are detected on chest radiography without elevation of tumor markers in patients with gynecological cancer.