Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis

Abstract Background The different morphological changes of pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) cause difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. To evaluate the clinical-imaging and therapeutic differences between nodule-mass PC and pneumonia-type PC. Materials and methods The clinical-imaging data of 68 pat...

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Main Authors: Yanli Zhang, Ling Liu, Wei Li, Chao Ran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Pulmonary Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03781-z
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author Yanli Zhang
Ling Liu
Wei Li
Chao Ran
author_facet Yanli Zhang
Ling Liu
Wei Li
Chao Ran
author_sort Yanli Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The different morphological changes of pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) cause difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. To evaluate the clinical-imaging and therapeutic differences between nodule-mass PC and pneumonia-type PC. Materials and methods The clinical-imaging data of 68 patients with PC were collected, including nodule-mass PC (36 cases) and pneumonia-type PC (32 cases). Their clinical-imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed to determine the independent discriminators. Their diagnostic and therapeutic effects were compared. Results Compared with nodule-mass PC, pneumonia-type PC was more common with respiratory symptoms (19.4% vs. 81.3%, P < 0.001), inflammatory response (16.7% vs. 71.9%, P < 0.001), bilateral distribution (16.7% vs. 68.8%, P < 0.001), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (0 vs. 21.9%, P = 0.010) and pleural effusion (0 vs. 25%, P = 0.005). While CT malignant signs were more common in nodule-mass PC (66.7% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed respiratory symptoms, inflammatory response, bilateral distribution, and malignant CT signs were independent discriminators, with moderate areas under the curve (AUC, 0.760–0.809). Their combined efficacy was significantly improved, with the highest AUC (0.937). Unlike pneumonia-type PC, nodule-mass PC was often treated with low-dose, short-term monofluconazole treatment. However, both groups showed good therapeutic effects. Conclusion Respiratory symptoms, inflammatory response, bilateral distribution, and malignant CT signs were different between nodule-mass PC and pneumonia-type pulmonary PC. Combining these independent discriminators could reveal its clinical-imaging diversity. The graded antifungal therapy based on CT morphology was effective.
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spelling doaj-art-e4c6d98080d34db09dc50ca6a844a7fc2025-08-20T04:01:24ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662025-07-012511810.1186/s12890-025-03781-zClinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosisYanli Zhang0Ling Liu1Wei Li2Chao Ran3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou UniversityObstetrics Department, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityMedical Imaging Department, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao UniversityAbstract Background The different morphological changes of pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) cause difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. To evaluate the clinical-imaging and therapeutic differences between nodule-mass PC and pneumonia-type PC. Materials and methods The clinical-imaging data of 68 patients with PC were collected, including nodule-mass PC (36 cases) and pneumonia-type PC (32 cases). Their clinical-imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed to determine the independent discriminators. Their diagnostic and therapeutic effects were compared. Results Compared with nodule-mass PC, pneumonia-type PC was more common with respiratory symptoms (19.4% vs. 81.3%, P < 0.001), inflammatory response (16.7% vs. 71.9%, P < 0.001), bilateral distribution (16.7% vs. 68.8%, P < 0.001), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (0 vs. 21.9%, P = 0.010) and pleural effusion (0 vs. 25%, P = 0.005). While CT malignant signs were more common in nodule-mass PC (66.7% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed respiratory symptoms, inflammatory response, bilateral distribution, and malignant CT signs were independent discriminators, with moderate areas under the curve (AUC, 0.760–0.809). Their combined efficacy was significantly improved, with the highest AUC (0.937). Unlike pneumonia-type PC, nodule-mass PC was often treated with low-dose, short-term monofluconazole treatment. However, both groups showed good therapeutic effects. Conclusion Respiratory symptoms, inflammatory response, bilateral distribution, and malignant CT signs were different between nodule-mass PC and pneumonia-type pulmonary PC. Combining these independent discriminators could reveal its clinical-imaging diversity. The graded antifungal therapy based on CT morphology was effective.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03781-zPulmonary cryptococcosisNodule-massPneumonia-typeComputed tomography
spellingShingle Yanli Zhang
Ling Liu
Wei Li
Chao Ran
Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Pulmonary cryptococcosis
Nodule-mass
Pneumonia-type
Computed tomography
title Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis
title_full Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis
title_fullStr Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis
title_full_unstemmed Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis
title_short Clinical-imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule-mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia-type pulmonary cryptococcosis
title_sort clinical imaging and therapeutic evaluation of nodule mass pulmonary cryptococcosis and pneumonia type pulmonary cryptococcosis
topic Pulmonary cryptococcosis
Nodule-mass
Pneumonia-type
Computed tomography
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03781-z
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