Cryptococcal panniculitis in an immunocompromised patient: a case report and review of the literature.
Cryptococcus neoformans is a dimorphic fungus known to cause disease predominately in immuno-compromised patients. It is not uncommon for cryptococcal disease to manifest within the cutaneous tissues of these patients, and it can have drastically varied presentations, from ulcerated nodules to a more subtle cellulitis. We present a patient who underwent a cardiac transplant and developed a fever and mildly erythematous, indurated plaques on his legs and flank several years later. Skin biopsy revealed cryptococcal panniculitis and C neoformans subsequently grew from both the biopsy culture and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This case report highlights the varied and subtle presentations of cutaneous cryptococcosis in immunocompromised patients and encourages a high index of suspicion for this potentially fatal disease in the setting of immunosuppression.
Abuav
Rachel
R
Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. abuav@jhmi.edu
McGirt
Laura Y
LY
Kazin
Rebecca A
RA
D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents