CT findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis in rabbit models

Objective: To explore CT findings of acute phase pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) by establishing standardized PC rabbit models of different immune status and compare those with pathological results. Methods: Forty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into immunosuppressed group and immune normal group. Cytarabine was injected to rabbits in immunosuppressed group, while antibiotics were given to all rabbits to prevent bacterial infection. Cryptococcal strains were inoculated through the airway injection, CT scan was performed the next day after inoculation, and the results were compared with pathology. Results: Solid lesions were common, and often occurred in subpleura in both two groups. Nodules were prone to occur in immunosuppressive acute phase in immunosuppressed group. The lesions were multi-typed, and tended to expand in immunosuppression group. Conclusion: The acute lesions of rabbit PC of different immune status mainly present as infiltrated plaques, while lung nodules and masses could be found with CT in some models of PC, indicating that nodules and mass-like lesions can occur in acute PC. Copyright © 2013 by the Press of Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology.