Disseminated cryptococcosis and sudden death. Report of an autopsy case

We report a case of sudden death due to terminal cryptococcal pneumonia in a patient not suspected to have AIDS. The correct diagnosis was found only by microscopic examination and serologic workup, illustrating the hazards faced by forensic pathologists and their assistants working without adequate information about the bodies under study. This case illustrates the need for the highest levels of caution and compliance with universal precautionary measures during autopsy procedures in the present days of the AIDS epidemic.