Abstract
The case of a 77-year-old man in whom a large digital ulcer with undermined edges was due to cutaneous infection byCryptococcus neoformans varietyneoformans serotype D, probably following direct inoculation, is reported. Long-term steroid treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have been a risk factor. A 12-day course of intravenous amphotericin B at a cumulative dose of 750 mg, followed by oral fluconazole at a daily dose of 600 mg for six weeks, resulted in healing of the skin lesion. Manifestations of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients are reviewed
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berkow R, Fletcher AJ: The Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy. Merck Research Laboratories Division of Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, 1992, p. 163–164.
Collins DN, Oppenheim IA, Edwards MR: Cryptococcosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus — light and electron microscopic observations on a morphologic variant. Archives of Pathology 1971, 91: 78–88.
Tierney LM, Mc Phee SJ, Papadakis MA: Medical diagnosis and treatment. Prentice Hall International Limited, London, 1996, p. 1312–1313.
Diamond RD:Cryptococcus neoformans. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R (ed): Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious diseases. Churchill Livingstone, New York, 1995, p. 2331–2340.
Pryzbora LA, Akiewicz J, Novak Z: Morphologic aspects in primary cryptococcosis of the skin. Mycopathologia et Mycologia Applicata 1974, 54: 531–540.
Kwon-Chung KJ, Bennett JE: Epidemiologic differences between the two varieties ofCryptococcus neoformans. American Journal of Epidemiology 1984, 120: 123–130.
Naka W, Masuda M, Konohana A, Shinoda T, Nishikawa T: Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis andCryptococcus neoformans serotype D. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 1995, 20: 221–225.
Tsai E, Louis DS, Arbor A: Cryptococcus infection of the hand. Journal of Hand Surgery 1994, 19: 813–814.
Yantsos VA, Carney J, Greer DL: Review of the morphological variations in cutaneous cryptococcosis with a new case resembling varicella. Cutis 1994, 54: 343–347.
Lui H, Mc Leod WA, Wood WS: An ulcerated plaque in a gay man. Archives of Dermatology 1993, 129: 495–500.
Pema K, Diaz J, Guerra LG, Nabhan D, Verghese A: Disseminated cutaneous cryptococcosis. Comparison of clinical manifestations in the pre-AIDS and AIDS eras. Archives of Internal Medicine 1994, 154: 1032–1034.
Singh N, Rihs JD, Gayowski T, Yu VL: Cutaneous cryptococcosis mimicking bacterial cellulitis in a liver transplant recipient: case report and review in solid organ transplant recipients. Clinical Transplantation 1994, 8: 365–368.
Baes H, Van Cutsem J: Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis. Dermatologica 1985, 171: 357–361.
Pype A, Kint A, De Vroey C: Cryptococcose cutanée primaire traitée par l'itraconazole. Bulletin de la Société Française de Mycologie Médicale 1986, 5: 93–96.
Goh CL: Cutaneous cryptococcosis successfully treated with itraconazole. Cutis 1993, 51: 377–380.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vogelaers, D., Petrovic, M., Deroo, M. et al. A case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 16, 150–152 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709474
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709474