Surgical treatment of primary pulmonary cryptococcal granuloma--report of 4 cases]

Primary pulmonary cryptococcal granuloma is not common in Sichuan. The diagnosis of this disease is difficult to make because the patient has no characteristic symptoms and the chest X-ray findings of the mass are not easily differentiated from carcinoma of the lung. The incidence of this disease is apparently increasing. Pulmonary cryptococcosis may be disseminated hematogenously to the meninges and cryptococcal meningitis is very difficult to treat. If the pulmonary lesion is localized, the patient's general condition is good with no evidence of systemic lupus erythematosis, diabetes, leukemia or lymphoma, partial resection of the lung is indicated. But, if the patient has a history of recent cryptococcal meningitis, surgery must be deferred. Four cases of primary pulmonary cryptococcal granuloma have been treated surgically supplemented with medical therapy in the First Affiliated Hospital from 1986 to 1987. Follow-up of more than one year showed good results in each case.