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We herein report a rare case of disseminated cryptococcosis presenting as mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy in a young immunocompetent man. A previously healthy 26‐year‐old man presented with persistent headache and nonproductive cough. Chest computed tomography indicated mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. Cryptococcal lymphadenitis and meningitis was confirmed by endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration and central spinal fluid examination, respectively. He received liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine followed by fluconazole and finally improved.

Lung hernia is a rare condition defined as the external protrusion of lung tissue from the thorax, which usually occurs after trauma or thoracic surgery. A chest computed tomography while performing the Valsalva manoeuvre is useful for a definitive diagnosis.

A 71-year-old man, who had received long-term oxygen therapy for respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had an enlarged mediastinal lymph node for one year. As his lung function was poor, we tried performing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration under non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for diagnosis but could not obtain sufficient specimens. Later, we performed an endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) using a transesophageal approach. Rapid on-site cytology revealed that adequate specimens were obtained, and we could terminate the procedure in 12 min without any complications. The histological findings revealed lung adenocarcinoma. EUS-B-FNA, which can be performed by a pulmonologist, is a useful alternative for diagnosing mediastinal lesions in patients with respiratory failure.