ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characters, diagnosis and treatment of Penicilliosis marneffei (PSM) in healthy hosts. MethodsThe clinical data of three cases of PSM involving the lung, bronchus and pleura in healthy hosts were retrospectively analyzed, and the case reports of Penicillium marneffei (PM) infection in healthy hosts were summarized by searching database for related articles, with "Penicilliosis marneffei" as key word both in English and Chinese literatures. ResultsThe main clinical manifestations of three PSM patients included fever, cough, lymphadenopathy, and elevated white blood cell counts.Series of chest computed tomography of three cases demonstrated atypical and extensive lung lesions.The fiberoptic bronchoscopy of the 2nd case showed several irregular nodules on the bronchial wall.The thoracoscopy of the 3rd case showed much pleural adhesions and small nodules on visceral and parietal pleura.Final diagnosis of PSM was confirmed by the fungal culture, and all patients received antifungal treatment.The symptoms relieved on medication but reoccurred on discontinuation.Literature review identified 36 cases of PSM in healthy hosts.The main clinical features were fever, cough/expectoration, skin rash/skin abscess and elevated white blood cell counts.The most common used antifungal drug was amphotericin B alone or combined with traconazole.The thoracic radiological imaging showed that roughly half of them had clearly thoracic lesions (20/36, 55.65%), and the pulmonary inflammatory infiltrate shadow was most common.Seventeen cases (47.22%) were misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. ConclusionsPulmonary involvement is common in healthy hosts with PSM and the thoracic radiological features are variable and unspecific, so PSM is easy to be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis.The PSM patients need a longer treatment than other fungal infections.