CT of intracranial cryptococcosis

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 139 - 142
• Main Authors: Popovich, MJ, Arthur, RH, Helmer, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL Am Soc Neuroradiology 01.01.1990; American Society of Neuroradiology
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Brain Diseases - microbiology; Cryptococcosis - diagnostic imaging; Cryptococcus neoformans; Ent and stomatologic mycoses; Female; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Infection; Human; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Mycosis; Radiodiagnosis; Craniocerebral; Cryptococcosis; Exploration; Computerized axial tomography
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X

CT scans of 35 patients with intracranial cryptococcal infection were reviewed retrospectively. Studies were normal in 43% of the patients. Positive findings in others included diffuse atrophy in 34%, mass lesions (cryptococcoma) in 11%, hydrocephalus in 9%, and diffuse cerebral edema in 3%. Two unusual types of cryptococcoma were encountered, namely gelatinous pseudocysts and an intraventricular cryptococcal cyst. All findings were nonspecific for CNS cryptococcosis. The results suggest that CNS cryptococcosis should be considered in all patients at risk for the disease who have these abnormal CT findings, no matter what their initial clinical presentation. In addition, MR demonstration of gelatinous pseudocysts in one patient indicates that this technique may be helpful in locating cryptococcal mass lesions not visualized on CT.