Clinical-imaging diversity of exudative pulmonary cryptococcosis with different immune states

We aimed to evaluate the clinical-imaging diversity of exudative pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) with different immune states. The clinical and imaging data of 76 patients with PC (immunocompetent exudative PC 36 cases and immunocompromised exudative PC 40 cases) were respectively reviewed to determine the diagnostic features. Immunocompromised exudative PC was more often with bilateral distribution (30.6% vs. 80.0%, P < 0.001), ground-glass reticular pattern (13.9% vs. 52.5%, P < 0.001), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (0 vs. 20.0%, P = 0.014) and pleural effusion (0 vs. 22.5%, P = 0.007). The inflammatory response (66.7% vs. 20.0%, P < 0.001) and perifissural consolidation (52.8% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001) were more common in immunocompetent exudative PC. The exudative PC had diverse clinical and imaging findings under different immune states. Inflammatory response, perifissural consolidation, bilateral distribution, ground-glass reticular pattern, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and pleural effusion could suggest exudative PC with different immune states and provide reliable evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.