Lumbar Cryptococcal Osteomyelitis Mimicking Metastatic Tumor.
- Author:
Hyun Seok JOO
1
;
Jung Ki HA
;
Chang Ju HWANG
;
Dong Ho LEE
;
Choon Sung LEE
;
Jae Hwan CHO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Lumbar vertebrae; Cryptococcus; Osteomyelitis; Neoplasm metastasis
- MeSH: Aged; Biopsy; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus; Diagnosis; Female; Fungi; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Lumbar Vertebrae; Neoplasm Metastasis; Osteomyelitis*; Rectal Neoplasms; Risk Factors; Spine
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2015;9(5):798-802
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Cryptococcus is an encapsulated, yeast-like fungus that rarely causes infection in immunocompetent patients. We present the case report of a 66-year-old female patient with a history of rectal cancer with an isolated lumbar vertebral cryptococcosis proven by biopsy performed during operation. The patient was not an immunocompromised host and did not have any other risk factors except the history of cured rectal cancer. The presumptive diagnosis based on imaging studies was metastatic spine cancer, so operation was performed. However, cryptococcal osteomyelitis was diagnosed in the pathologic examination. This case report emphasizes that we should be aware that lumbar cryptococcosis can be a rare cause of mimicking lesions with metastatic cancer.
