[Cryptococcal sepsis simulating miliary tuberculosis in malignant lymphoma]

A malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Cb-Cc) stage IVb was diagnosed in a man of 71 years of age. He was subjected to polychemotherapy. The mediastinum was irradiated. Cortisone therapy was performed because of irradiation pneumonitis. A highly febrile disease pattern developed with increasing dyspnoea while displaying the signs and symptoms of a miliary pulmonary disease. The treatment course was directed at combatting miliary tuberculosis. The patient died from cardiorespiratory failure. The postmortem examination supplied proof of cryptococcal sepsis. The differential diagnosis is discussed.