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Isolated Cryptococcal neoformans Pleuritis in a Lung Cancer Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Purpose of review

The purposes of this study were to report and review the literature of an Isolated Cryptococcal neoformans Pleuritis.

Recent findings

Cryptococcus neoformans is known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans, especially for those with underlying cellular immunity dysfunction. Disseminated disease can result often due to primary pulmonary inoculation; however, isolated disease to body cavity sites such as the pleural space is rare. We present a unique case of a 79-year-old man with a history of lung adenocarcinoma who presented with gradual onset of dyspnea. Chest radiograph revealed only a small left pleural effusion. Pleural fluid was exudative and positive for adenosine deaminase. It eventually grew Cryptococcus neoformans. There was no evidence of dissemination or parenchymal pulmonary involvement.

Summary

We report a case of a 79-year-old man with prior lung adenocarcinoma and isolated C. neoformans pleuritis. A review of the available literature reveals that this finding is exceedingly rare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Nora T. Oliver, Richard J. Hamill & Alejandro Restrepo

  2. Section of Infectious Diseases, Atlanta VAMC, Decatur, GA, USA

    Nora T. Oliver

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Donald R. Lazarus

Authors
  1. Nora T. Oliver
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  2. Donald R. Lazarus
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  3. Richard J. Hamill
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  4. Alejandro Restrepo
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Correspondence to Alejandro Restrepo.

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Conflict of Interest

Nora T. Oliver, Donald R. Lazarus, Richard J. Hamill, and Alejandro Restrepo declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Oliver, N.T., Lazarus, D.R., Hamill, R.J. et al. Isolated Cryptococcal neoformans Pleuritis in a Lung Cancer Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Curr Trop Med Rep 3, 176–180 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-016-0093-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-016-0093-z

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