title: Unusual morphologies of Cryptococcus spp. in tissue specimens: report of 10 cases.
abstract: Ten cases of cryptococcosis due to unusual microscopic forms of Cryptococcus sp. observed over a twenty-eight year period (1981-2009) are presented. The most important clinicopathological and laboratory data are tabulated. The uncommon forms of cryptococcal cells given are: structures resembling germ tube (one case), chains of budding yeasts (one case), pseudohyphae (two cases) and nonencapsulated yeast-like organisms (eight cases). The diagnosis was based on the histopathological findings. The causative organism was isolated and identified in seven cases; five were due to C. neoformans, and two to C. gattii. In addition, the importance of using staining histochemical techniques - Grocott's silver stain (GMS), Mayer's mucicarmine stain (MM) and Fontana-Masson stain (FM) - in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis is argued.
authors.affiliation: Pathologic Anatomy Unit, Medical School, Rovira i Virgili University, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Alexandra Flávia
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gazzoni
authors.forename: Flávio de Mattos
authors.initials: Fde M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Emily Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayayo
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarro
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capilla
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Severo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies