title: MRI findings of intramedullary spinal cryptococcoma.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast that most commonly infects the central nervous system. Meningitis and meningoencephalitis are the most common presentations of cryptococcosis. Cryptococcoma, however, is a rare entity characterized by localized, solid, tumor-like masses that are usually found in the cerebral hemispheres or cerebellum, but are extremely rare in the spinal cord. We report a case of an immunocompetent patient with intramedullary cryptococcoma in the spinal cord, which presented as a spinal tumor. Diagnosis was made by histological examination of the surgical specimen.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Ministry of Health Ankara Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ngultasli@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Neslihan Zehra
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Gültaşli
authors.forename: Karabekir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orhun
authors.forename: Serdal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albayrak
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery