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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Femoral Bone Marrow Aspiration in Live Mice
Published on: July 5, 2014
Cryptococcal sepsis diagnosed by bone marrow examination
Omar A Abdul-Rahman1, Hannah Gay, Elizabeth Caldwell
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. oabdul_rahman@hotmail.com
Insights
Disseminated cryptococcal disease in immunocompromised patients is typically diagnosed via antigen tests. However, in one child, diagnosis was delayed until bone marrow aspiration revealed Cryptococcus neoformans.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Disseminated cryptococcal disease commonly affects individuals with compromised immune systems.
- Standard diagnostic methods include antigen detection in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, alongside cultures.
Observation:
- A pediatric case presented with diagnostic challenges, where initial tests were inconclusive.
- The patient underwent bone marrow aspiration as part of an investigation for a potential neoplasm.
Findings:
- Bone marrow aspiration successfully identified *Cryptococcus neoformans*, leading to a definitive diagnosis.
- This highlights an alternative diagnostic pathway when conventional methods fail.
Implications:
- Bone marrow examination can be a valuable tool for diagnosing disseminated fungal infections in complex pediatric cases.
- Early identification through less common methods is crucial for timely treatment and improved outcomes in cryptococcosis.
Abstract:
Disseminated cryptococcal disease is often associated with immunodeficient states. The diagnosis is usually made using standard antigen tests on serum and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with known immunodeficiency. Often, blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures also yield Cryptococcus neoformans. The authors describe a child whose diagnosis remained elusive until a bone marrow aspiration, performed as part of an evaluation for suspected neoplasm, revealed the offending organism.
