title: Isolated skull cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient.
abstract: A 62-year-old immunocompetent rural woman who represents an isolated cryptococcal skull infection without systematic involvement is described. Diagnosis was based on positive India ink staining, positive histopathologic examination, and positive culture. Species identification was performed by growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar and CHROMagar medium and by sequencing of the intergenic and internal transcribed spacer regions of the rRNA genes. This case describes a rare presentation of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient. The lesions were significantly improved with treatment of daily oral itraconazole 400 mg. A maintenance therapy with a low-dose itraconazole was prescribed to warrant a clinical and mycological eradication. A two-year follow-up did not show any recurrence of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China.
authors.forename: Q T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: W Q
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: D Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Q L
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D017964:Itraconazole