J Korean Cancer Assoc.  1997 Jun;29(3):540-540.

A Case of Cryptococcal Meningitis in a Brest Cancer Patient with Liver Metastasis, Suffering from Herpes Zoster

• Ahn CW
• Chung WJ
• Kim BS
• Cho SH
• Rha SY
• Chung HC
• Kim JH
• Roh JK
• Kim BS
• Kim HJ
• Lee KG

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a relatively common mycosis of human caused by a worldwide Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcosis occurs more frequently in immuno-compromised hosts such as patients with lymphoma, AIDS, leukemia and other debilitating diseases which manifest a condition of altered cell mediated immunity. Also cancer patients with anticancer chemotherapy are at high risk. Cryptococcosis is primarily a pulmonary disease that remains asymptomatic and unrecognised in most cases. Meningitic and meningoencephalitc forms are more frequently diagnosed because of their striking clinical symptoms.Meningoencephalitis is an uncommon form of cryptoccocosis that often leads to coma and death within a short time, if it is not quickly diagnosed and treated properly. The treatment of choice for the cryptococcosis consists of intravenous amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytocine. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in 47-year-old female breast cancer patient with liver metastasis after systemic chemotherapy. She complained headach, fever and diagnosed as cryptococcal meningitis after the India ink smear and culture of CSF. After treated with amphotericin B, her conditions were improved.

Keyword

Cryptococcus meningitis; Breast cancer

MeSH Terms

Amphotericin B
Breast Neoplasms
Coma
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcus neoformans
Drug Therapy
Female
Fever
Herpes Zoster*
Humans
Immunity, Cellular
India
Ink
Leukemia
Liver*
Lung Diseases
Lymphoma
Meningitis, Cryptococcal*
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Strikes, Employee
Amphotericin B