CT Findings Of Primary Fungal Pulmonary Infection

PURPOSE:To evaluate the findings and diagnostic values of primary pulmonary fungal infection in CT imaging.MATERIALS AND METHODS:From2004to2012, retrospectively analyzed the CT findings and clinical data of18cases with primary pulmonary fungal infection. All patients were confirmed by surgery pathology or serological examination.RESULTS:The CT findings of primary pulmonary fungal infection are soft tissue density nodules (15/18) or masses (3/18). By pathology or serological examination, there are12cases of aspergillus infection,3cases of cryptococcal infection and3cases of coccidioidomycosis. The CT findings of aspergillus infection are quasi-circular shapes (12/12), lobulation and spiculation (6/12), bronchial through syndrome (3/12), the air crescent sign (6/12), mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathys (3/12).6cases of air crescent sign are found in primary pulmonary aspergillosis infection. Among12cases,6cases underwent CT enhancement scan.3focuses are no enhancement and3focuses are slight enhancement. The CT findings of all the cryptococcus neoformans infection are cauliflower-like shape, lobulation and spiculation, focal point calcification, no mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathys. After enhancement, all of the focuses are enhanced heterogeneously. The CT findings of all the coccidioidomycosis are irregular shape, halo sign, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathys. Then3cases of halo sign are found in primary coccidioidal infection.CONCLUSIONS:The CT findings of primary pulmonary fungal infection are nodules or masses. After enhancement, they are no enhancement or slight enhancement. The characteristic of aspergillosis is air crescent sign. Cryptococcal lesions showed cauliflower-like shape and focal point calcification. The halo sign is more common in coccidioidomycosis.