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Mass-forming hepatic cryptococcosis: a mimicker of metastatic tumors

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Abstract

This report provides the first imaging report of isolated intrahepatic cryptococcosis. An 83-year-old man was incidentally pointed out of hepatic nodules. CT revealed four well-defined nodules of 21 mm, 15 mm, 7 mm, and 5 mm in diameter without contrast enhancement. Two nodules displayed central hyperattenuation and the others were totally hyperattenuating. MRI showed that the nodules were hypointense relative to normal liver parenchyma on T1- and T2-weighted images. 18F-FDG PET imaging revealed no obvious increased uptake of nuclear species into the liver nodules. Partial resection of the three largest hepatic nodules was performed based on a preoperative diagnosis of hepatic metastasis from known sigmoid colon cancer. All three resected nodules were composed mainly of necrotic tissue with peripheral histiocytic aggregates and numerous yeast-like cells. The final diagnosis was hepatic cryptococcosis.

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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Sodai Hoshiai and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sodai Hoshiai.

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Hoshiai, S., Hiyama, T., Kawasaki, H. et al. Mass-forming hepatic cryptococcosis: a mimicker of metastatic tumors. Abdom Radiol 45, 2268–2273 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-020-02437-2

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