Beware of cryptococcomas when treating Cryptococcal meningitis

Abstract

Introduction: The authors describe a rare presentation of central nervous system cryptococcosis in an immunocompromised patient. Case description: An HIV-positive patient, with poor adherence to the treatment, presented with a seventeen days history of severe headache. On the neurological exam there was only evidence of neck stiffness, he had a CD4 count of 23 cells/μl and plasma HIV RNA viral loads of 364,000 copies/ml. Lumbar puncture revealed positive for cryptococcal antigen virus and so treatment with amphotericin B was started. During his admission the patient developed an expressive aphasia with visual hallucinations and the brain MRI revealed cerebral cryptococcomas. After 98 days of treatment general and neurological examination was normal and the patient was discharged home. Conclusion: This case highlights a rare and severe complication of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in immunocompromised patients.