Asymptomatic pulmonary cryptococcosis diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Cryptococcosis can be a life-threatening mycosis in immunocompromised patients. However, it has a somewhat better prognosis in immunocompetent hosts. AIDS has led to an increase in the incidence of the disease. Clinically, the lesions can be confused easily with malignancy.


METHODS
A 25-year-old, asymptomatic male presented for a routine health check-up. The chest radiograph showed a subpleural left apical area of consolidation, suspicious for either a neoplasm or infection. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed a granulomatous lesion with refractile yeast forms of Cryptococcus, both within the multinucleate giant cells and extracellularly. This was subsequently confirmed by culture and histology.


CONCLUSIONS
The cytomorphology of cryptococcosis is characteristic, and FNAC is a useful modality for diagnosing the infection in asymptomatic patients but needs a high index of suspicion, especially in nonimmunocompromised patients.
Bhaduri
A S
AS
Department of Surgical Pathology, P. D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Veer Savarkar Marg, Mahim, Mumbai 400016, India.
Amonkar
G P
GP
Amonkar
P P
PP
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male