title: Cutaneous manifestations of systemic cryptococcosis in immunosupressed patients.
abstract: Since its discovery 100 years ago, the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans has been implicated in systemic infections of many immunocompromised patients and has been a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients. Clinical symptoms are often initially subtle or lacking. Cutaneous involvement often carries a dismal prognosis as it is usually a sign of dissemination. However, lesions may develop before any systemic or constitutional symptomatology, and despite their non specific appearance, are easily accessible for scrapings, biopsies and cultures. A high index of suspicion is of utmost importance in high risk individuals to avoid delaying the diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103-2714, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*