Nodal cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome masquerading as tuberculosis in an HIV-infected patient

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 23; no. 3; p. 216
• Main Authors: Tweddle, A, Davies, S J, Topping, W, Whitehorn, J, Falzon, M, Miller, R F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Cryptococcosis - diagnosis; Cryptococcosis - immunology; Cryptococcosis - pathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Histocytochemistry; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Humans; Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome - diagnosis; Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome - pathology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Diseases - diagnosis; Lymphatic Diseases - etiology; Radiography, Thoracic; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Tuberculosis - pathology
• ISSN: 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1258/ijsa.2009.009356

An African HIV-infected patient presented with widespread necrotic lymphadenopathy five months after starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and was thought to have disseminated tuberculosis in the context of an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) on the basis of typical imaging appearances and suggestive appearances from a fine needle aspirate of a nodal mass. The patient deteriorated despite empirical antituberculosis therapy and the correct diagnosis of nodal cryptococcal infection was subsequently established by histological examination of a core biopsy from a lymph node. IRIS should be borne in mind when considering the differential diagnosis in a patient who has recently started cART.