Cryptococcus Species Infection in a Bone Marrow Transplant Patient and Review of the Literature / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

Cryptococcosis is caused by several Cryptococcus species, including C. neoformans and C. gattii. Skin involvement is seen in 10~20% of systemic cryptococcosis. There are also rare cases of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in which skin-penetrating trauma is the alleged mechanism of infection. A 16-year-old male presented with multiple, 0.2~0.3 cm-sized, brownish papules on the whole body for 2 weeks. He had past history of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and received bone marrow transplant 1 year ago. After leukemia had recurred 1 month ago and after chemotherapy, multiple brownish papules developed. Histopathologic examinations revealed narrow-based budding yeasts in hematoxylin and eosin, Periodic acid-Schiff, and Gomori methenamine silver stains. Also in mucicarmine stain there were pink-colored capsules around the cell walls. Finally it was diagnosed as deep fungal infection due to Cryptococcus species. In spite of administrating fluconazole, the patient expired due to respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. Herein, we report a case of Cryptococcus species infection in a bone marrow transplant patient.