Clinical and radiographic presentations of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is often noted in immunocompromized patients, especially in HIV-seropositive patients and post-transplant patients. Only a few case reports and small-scale studies on pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients have been published in the English literature. However, there are several areas of uncertainty in this group of patients including image presentations and management strategy. This retrospective study including 17 patients is designed to share our 7 y of experience in clarifying the characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients, including initial symptoms, diagnostic criteria, pulmonary imaging, treatment and outcome in a tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan.