title: Cutaneous manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis.
abstract: Disseminated cryptococcosis is a life-threatening infection with cutaneous dissemination in 10% to 20% of cases. We describe seven patients with disseminated cryptococcosis with variable cutaneous manifestations. AIDS was a predisposing factor in six patients. Cutaneous presentations included a draining sinus tract, verrucous nodules, molluscum-like lesions and erythematous, indurated plaques. Histologically, all lesions revealed numerous encapsulated cryptococcal organisms in a gelatinous pattern, highlighted with periodic acid-Schiff, mucicarmine, and methenamine silver stains. The patients responded variably to treatment with amphotericin B, flucytosine, and fluconazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA, Medical Center, Torrance, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dimino-Emme
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gurevitch
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged