What is the significance of an isolated positive cryptococcal antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid of cancer patients?
We evaluated the significance of an isolated positive cryptococcal antigen titer in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 12 cancer patients. In most of the cases, the test had a low titer, was frequently associated with an intracranial malignancy and was considered to represent a false-positive result. Hence, an isolated cryptococcal antigen in the CSF has an unclear clinical value and must be interpreted with caution.
Kontoyiannis
Dimitrios P
DP
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. dkontoyi@mdanderson.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000371:Agglutination; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic