Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Case of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Mimicking Hematogeneous Metastases in an Immuocompetent Patient: Value of Absent 18F-Fluorodeoxylucose Uptake on Positron Emission Tomography/CT Scan

  • Lee, Chiao-Hua (Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Tzao, Ching (Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Chang, Tsun-Hou (Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Chang, Wei-Chou (Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Huang, Guo-Shu (Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Lin, Chih-Kung (Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Lin, Hsin-Chung (Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center) ;
  • Hsu, Hsian-He (Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center)
  • Published : 2013.06.01
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Abstract

The radiologic appearance of multiple discrete pulmonary nodules in immunocompetent patients, with cryptococcal infection, has been rarely described. We describe a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis, presenting with bilaterally and randomly distributed nodules on a computed tomography, mimicking hematogeneous metastases. Positron emission tomography does not demonstrate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, suggesting a low probability for malignancy, which is a crucial piece of information for clinicians when making a management decision. We find the absence of FDG uptake correlates with the pathologic finding of an infectious nodule, composed of fibrosis and necrosis.

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References

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