title: Cryptococcosis of the upper genital tract.
abstract: Upper genital tract infection by Cryptococcus neoformans has not previously been reported. We describe such a case, in order to alert clinicians to the existence of this rare infection. A 34-year-old woman with AIDS presented with chronic menorrhagia, fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Despite blood transfusions and hormonal therapy, her vaginal bleeding could not be controlled and she became hemodynamically unstable. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed, at which time granulomatous peritonitis and prominent myometrial blood vessels were found. Histologic examination revealed cryptococcal infection of all upper genital organs. This case demonstrates that disseminated cryptococcosis may involve the upper genital tract in women, and may be associated with profuse vaginal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. manishgopal@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gopal
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCrosson
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology