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Cerebral cryptococcosis: atypical appearances on CT
M Awasthi1, T Patankar, P Shah
1Department of Radiology, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Bombay, India.
Insights
Cryptococcal infection, typically seen in immunocompromised individuals, can rarely affect immunocompetent patients. This case highlights an unusual presentation of cryptococcal infection with neurological deficits and brain imaging findings.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Cryptococcal infection commonly affects immunocompromised individuals, often manifesting as meningitis or meningoencephalitis.
- The causative agent, *Cryptococcus*, is a fungus that can lead to severe central nervous system disease.
Observation:
- This report details an atypical case of cryptococcal infection in an immunocompetent patient.
- The patient presented with symptoms of headache and hemiplegia, indicative of focal neurological deficits.
Findings:
- Computed tomography (CT) revealed a significant ring-enhancing lesion in the parietal lobe.
- Intralesional calcification was noted within the lesion, an unusual finding for cryptococcal infections.
Implications:
- This case expands the clinical spectrum of cryptococcal infections, emphasizing its potential in immunocompetent hosts.
- Highlights the importance of considering infectious etiologies, including cryptococcosis, in the differential diagnosis of brain lesions with atypical imaging features.
- Suggests that intralesional calcification may occur in cryptococcal brain lesions, warranting further investigation.
Abstract:
Cryptococcal infection is common in immunocompromised patients, often presenting with meningitis or meningoencephalitis. We report an unusual presentation of cryptococcal infection in an immunocompetent patient presenting with headache and hemiplegia. CT demonstrated a large ring-enhancing lesion in the parietal region with intralesional calcification.