title: CNS cryptococcosis: unusual aspects.
abstract: Eleven patients with CNS cryptococcal infection are reviewed. The most prominent symptom was headache, present in all patients. The clinical manifestations were the direct result of the meningitis itself or a consequence of intracranial cryptococcal granulomata or hydrocephalus, these latter 2 complications being demonstrable on CT head scan. In the 2 patients who also had MRI scans, additional parenchymal lesions were revealed which had not been detected by CT. Combined amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine therapy was the treatment of choice, but in 3 patients fluconazole was also used. Chronic oral therapy with this agent has maintained a good clinical response in one patient who failed to respond to traditional antifungal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cochius
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D005437:Flucytosine