[A case of acute cerebellar encephalitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans]

A case of acute cryptococcal cerebellar encephalitis with CT enhancement confined to the cerebellum is reported. A 46-year-old man with hepatoma was admitted with chief complaints of headache, fever and dizziness. On admission, cerebellar signs (disturbance of finger-to-nose test and of heel-to-knee test, intention tremor, and truncal ataxia) were neurologically noted. However, there were no brainstem signs. Head CT showed swelling and enhancement of the cerebellar cortex and dilatation of the cerebral ventriculi. Cryptococcus neoformans was detected in a culture of the patient's CSF. Clinical symptoms and signs, and enhancement of the cerebellum on CT gradually diminished after administration of anti-fungal drugs, and CSF became negative for cryptococcal antigen 6 months after admission.