Vertebro-cerebral cryptococcosis mimicking tuberculosis: A diagnostic dilemma in countries with high burden of tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT

We report a case of a 30-year-old immunocompetent man with disseminated cryptococcosis who was initially treated with antitubercular therapy due to clinical and radiological diagnosis of vertebro-cerebral tuberculosis. The diagnosis of Cryptococcus infection was made due to incidental isolation of this fungus from blood culture with negative cerebrospinal fluid culture results. Though disseminated cryptococcosis with central nervous system, skeletal, and skin involvement is an uncommon manifestation of Cryptococcus neoformans infection, a high clinical suspicion and early initiation of therapy is needed to recognise and treat such patients efficiently.