[Cryptococcosis with exclusive cutaneous presentation in a patient with AIDS]

We report an exclusively cutaneous case of cryptococcosis, which is exceptional. He was a 33 years old patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with an ulcer-necrotic lesion at the nasal wings with a long and torpid evolution. Finally, culture and biopsy were diagnostic of cryptococcosis. We ruled out affection of other organs and the cryptococcal antigen was negative in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was treated with fluconazole and had a good clinical course. Its emphasized the scarcity of this form of presentation as well as the lack of specificity of its lesions and the necessity of ruling out other locations once the fungus is isolated in the skin. Diagnosis is simple through skin biopsy and culture. Its important to determine the cryptococcal antigen. We comment on the current approaches to treatment during acute and maintenance phases, after the appearance of the new imidazolic compounds such as fluconazole.