Cryptococcal laryngitis: case report and review of the literature

Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans may range from an asymptomatic illness to lethal systemic disease, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Although cryptococcal infection most commonly involves the lungs or the central nervous system, it can disseminate to virtually any organ. Laryngeal cryptococcal infections are extremely rare--only 5 cases have been reported in the literature. Herein, we describe cryptococcal laryngitis occurring in a 55-year-old man with asthma and allergic fungal sinusitis. He presented with hoarseness and cough. He was treated with itraconazole followed by fluconazole therapy with complete recovery from his laryngeal infection. The patient was disease-free when last seen 10 months after the diagnosis. We present a summary of all reported cases of cryptococcal laryngitis.