Clinicopathological features of isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in HIV-negative patients

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinicopathological features of isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients. METHODS: This retrospective study analysed the following data from HIV-negative patients diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis: demographics, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations on admission, laboratory tests, imaging data, results of histopathology, treatment options and outcomes. Sputum samples from all patients were collected and assessed for the presence of yeast or fungi. Cryptococcal antigen testing was performed for some patients. Histopathological analysis was also undertaken for some samples of lung tissue. RESULTS: The study analysed 37 patients (22 males). Thirteen (35.14%) patients were asymptomatic, 24 (64.86%) were symptomatic and 17 (45.95%) patients had no underlying disease. Out of 25 tested patients, 23 (92.00%) tested positive on the serum cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen test. During 6 to 24 months of follow-up, all 37 patients that were either treated with or without antifungal therapy alone or combined with surgical resection showed complete recovery. One patient made a full recovery without any treatment. CONCLUSION: Early identification of pulmonary cryptococcosis in HIV-negative patients and timely detection of cryptococcal antigens in serum or respiratory specimens may help to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the disease.