title: [Cryptococcal meningitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptococcus neoformans causes systemic disease in patients with immunodeficiency. The incidence of cryptococcal meningitis has increased in parallel with that of HIV infection. Cancer is also a known predisposing factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present two case reports and a review of the literature concerning the epidemiology, diagnostics and treatment of cryptococcal meningitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of cryptococcal meningitis in Scandinavia seems to be lower than in other parts of the world. Clinical signs and symptoms are often uncharacteristic. Detection of antigen in spinal fluid is a sensitive and fast test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryptococcal meningitis is a rare disease, often with uncharacteristic symptoms. Patients with haematological malignancies have a higher risk of contracting this disease. It is a differential diagnosis when neurological symptoms occur in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Immunologisk avdeling, Institutt for kreftforskning, Oslo. einaras@labmed.uio.no
authors.forename: Einar Andreas
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sivertsen
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torfoss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged