Solitary cavitary pulmonary nodule may be a common CT finding in AIDS-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis

AbstractBackground: Previous studies have demonstrated that the most common chest radiologic finding in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is diffuse interstitial infiltrates. The aim of this study was to provide additional radiologic characterization of PC in AIDS patients. Methods: AIDS patients from the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Southeast University who were diagnosed with cryptococcosis between February 2009 and May 2012 and who had undergone chest computed tomography (CT) scans before or at the time of diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Twelve patients met eligibility criteria. The median CD4 T-cell count was 23 cells/μl (range 2–79 cells/μl). Eleven patients had pulmonary abnormalities on imaging. Initial chest CT scans demonstrated solitary cavitary pulmonary nodules in 9 patients, pleural effusions in 2 patients, bilateral ground-glass opacities in 6 patients, patchy opacities in 1 patient, and bronchiectasis in 1 patient. Bil...