Pulmonary cryptococcosis can be clinically silent in non-HIV infected patients but can also present as nodules and masses on the chest radiograph, which can be mistaken for tuberculosis or lung cancer. Common symptoms include fever and cough, and uncommonly haemoptysis. This report illustrates a non-HIV infected patient whose main complaint was haemoptysis and headache. He was diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis from biopsy of an endobronchial mass found on flexible bronchoscopy. Disseminated cryptoccoccal infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis in non-HIV infected patients presenting with haemoptysis and headache. Early recognition and administration of appropriate therapy will improve clinical outcome in these patients.
Aspergillosis is a spectrum of diseases caused by members of the genus Aspergillus that continues to pose a significant threat to immunocompromised, organ transplant, neutropenic and cancer patients. In view of increasing risk factors leading to invasive aspergillosis, it is imperative for clinicians to be familiar with the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods and management of the disease. We describe a 34-year-old immunocompetent male patient receiving chemotherapy for Aspergillus fumigatus infection that had disseminated to lung, liver and spleen. A computed tomogram of thorax and abdomen showed thick-walled cavities of different sizes with air fluid levels, consolidation in both lungs and involvement of liver and spleen. His broncheoalveolar lavage and sputum specimens yielded A. fumigatus. Successful treatment of this infection was achieved with amphotericin B and itraconazole.