Cryptococcal osteomyelitis: a report of 5 cases and a review of the recent literature

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen associated with advanced HIV disease and other disorders associated with immune dysfunction. The pulmonary and the central nervous system are the most common manifestations of the disease. Localised osteomyelitis as the sole manifestation of extrapulmonary disease is rare. Herein, we present five cases of Cryptococcus osteomyelitis as the only manifestation of extrapulmonary disease. We also identified 84 additional cases of isolated cryptococcal osteomyelitis in the literature. Using these data, we have made some general recommendations regarding an approach to treatment of this uncommon clinical entity.