Summary
A case of bilateral lobar pneumonia due toCryptococcus neoformans is presented. The capsule-deficient fungal organisms within tissue were suggestive ofHistoplasma capsulatum. Cultures grewCryptococcus neoformans and there was cryptococcal antigen in the serum. Pulmonary cryptococcosis and the occurrence of unencapsulated cryptococci are reviewed. The important role both culture and the latex agglutination test for cryptococcal antigen play in the differential diagnosis of systemic fungal infections with over-lapping histopathology are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, R.D., Haugen, R.K.: Tissue changes and tissue diagnosis in cryptococcosis. Am. J. Clin. Pathol.25, 14–23 (1955)
Bennett, J.E., Bailey, J.W.: Control for rheumatoid factor in the latex test for cryptococcosis. Am. J. Clin. Pathol.56, 360–365 (1971)
Bulmer, G.S., Sans, M.D.:Cryptococcus neoformans III. Inhibition of phagocytosis. J. Bacteriol. 95, 5–8 (1968)
Campbell, G.D.: Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.94, 236–243 (1966)
Emmons, C.W.: Natural occurrence of opportunistic fungi. Lab. Invest.11, 1026–1032 (1962)
Farhi, F., Bulmer, G.S., Tacker, J.R.:Cryptococcus neoformans. IV. The not-so-encapsulated yeast. Infect. Immunol.1, 526–531 (1970)
Farmer, S.G., Komorowski, R.A.: Histologic response to capsule-deficientCryptococcus neoformans. Arch. Pathol.96, 383–387 (1973)
Fisher, B.D., Armstrong, D.: Cryptococcal interstitial pneumonia value of antigen determination. New Engl. J. Med.297, 1440–1441 (1977)
Goodman, J.S., Kaufman, L., Koenig, M.G.: Diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis: value of immunologic detection of crytococcal antigen. New Engl. J. Med.285, 434–436 (1971)
Gutierrez, F., Fu, Y.S., Luri, N.I.: Cryptococcosis histologically resembling histoplasmosis. Arch. Pathol.99, 347–352 (1975)
Hammerman, K.J., Powell, K.E., Christianson, C.S., et al.: Pulmonary cryptococcosis: clinical forms and treatment. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.108, 1116–1123 (1973)
Ishag, C.M., Bulmer, G.S., Felton, F.G.: An evaluation of various environmental factors affecting propagation ofCryptococcus neoformans. Mycopathol. Mycol. Appl.35, 81–90 (1968)
Kaufman, L., Blumer, S.: Value and interpretation of serological tests for the diagnosis of cryptococcosis. Appl. Microbiol.16, 1907–1912 (1968)
Pidcoe, V., Kaufman, L.: Fluorescent-antibody reagent for the identification ofCryptococcus neoformans. Appl. Microbiol.16, 271–275 (1968)
Prolla, J.C., Rosa, U.W., Xavier, R.G.: The detection ofCryptococcus neoformans in sputum cytology. Acta Cytol.14, 87–91 (1970)
Randhawa, H.S., Pal, M.: Occurrence and significance ofCryptococcus neoformans in the respiratory tract of patients with bronchopulmonary disorders. J. Clin. Microbiol.5, 5–8 (1977)
Sheppe, W.M.: Torula infection in man. Am. J. Med. Sci.167, 91–108 (1924)
Smith, F.S., Gibson, P., Nicholls, T.T.: Pulmonary resection for localized lesions of cryptococcosis (torulosis): a review of eight cases. Thorax31, 121–126 (1976)
Tynes, B., Mason. K.N., Jennings, A.E.: Variant forms of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Ann. Intern. Med.69, 1117–1125 (1968)
Utz, J.P., Garriques, I.L., Sande, M.A.: Therapy of cryptococcosis with a combination of Flucytosine and Amphotericin B. J. Infect. Dis.132, 368–373 (1975)
Whitaker, D., Sterrett, G.F.:Cryptococcus neoformans diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung. Acta Cytol.20, 105–107 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harding, S.A., Scheld, W.M., Feldman, P.S. et al. Pulmonary infection with capsule-deficientCryptococcus neoformans . Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 382, 113–118 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102745
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102745