Abstract

TAPIA E, OSCAR; VILLASECA H, MIGUEL  and  ARAYA O, JUAN CARLOS. Mesenteric cryptococcal lymphadenitis: Report of one case. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2010, vol.138, n.12, pp. 1535-1538. ISSN 0034-9887.  doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872010001300010.

Cryptococcosis is an invasive mycotic infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated, yeast-like fungus. It is considered an opportunist infection, since it mainly affects immunocompromised subjects. However there are isolated reports of the infection in immunocompetent subjects. Cryptococcal infection of intra-abdominal organs or tissues is extremely rare. We report a 21-year-old HIV positive male that, during the treatment of a meningeal cryptococcosis, presented a clinical picture of an acute abdomen suggesting acute appendicitis. The patient was operated, finding enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes forming conglomerates and a macroscopically normal appendix. The conglomerated lymph nodes and the appendix were excised. The pathological study of the surgical piece revealed an intra abdominal cryptococcal lymphadenitis and a normal appendix.

Keywords : Cryptococcus neoformans; HIV; Mesenteric lymphadenitis.