Disseminated cryptococcosis presenting with cutaneous involvement in an immunocompromised patient

Dermatol Online J. 2020 Dec 15;26(12):13030/qt8fv322pr.

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that typically affects immunocompromised patients. It most commonly affects the lungs and may then disseminate to the central nervous system, bone, skin, and adrenal glands. Herein, we describe a 69-year-old man who presented with skin lesions as the initial manifestation of disseminated cryptococcosis. Initial workup led to an assumption that the patient was immunocompetent. Later in the clinical course, idiopathic depletion of CD4 T cells was discovered. This case highlights that disseminated cryptococcosis may present with cutaneous symptoms even when there is no evidence of pulmonary or central nervous system involvement and may be the first sign of an underlying cellular immune dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cryptococcosis / pathology*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / pathology*