Wappler-Guzzetta Edina A, Gray Austin L, Dagostino Jessika, Kerstetter Justin C
Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
Pathologists' Assistant Program, Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
Life (Basel). 2022 Oct 21;12(10):1667. doi: 10.3390/life12101667.
(1) Background: Cryptococcus neoformans is mostly known for causing meningitis, with or without disseminated disease. (2) Case presentation: An immunocompromised 75-year-old gentleman presented post renal transplant with generalized weakness, altered mental status, hypoxemia, and hyponatremia, and was found to have disseminated cryptococcal infection. After an initial improvement, the patient became suddenly hypotensive, and passed away soon after. The autopsy revealed widespread cryptococcal involvement, with the most severely affected organs being the brain, lungs, pancreas, adrenal glands, and spleen. The pancreas and one of the adrenal glands revealed diffuse granulomatous cryptococcal infection, with large areas of necrosis. The spleen also showed a large area of cryptococcal necrosis. In addition, the patient had chylous ascites, without histologically identifiable organisms. (3) Conclusions: This is a rare case of disseminated cryptococcal infection with severe necrotizing adrenalitis and pancreatitis, in addition to significant spleen, lung, and central nervous system involvement. The early recognition and treatment of the adrenal gland and pancreas cryptococcosis with surgical interventions may lead to better outcomes in affected patients. Furthermore, steroid treatment and diabetes mellitus may be risk factors for adrenal gland involvement. Additionally, clinicians should keep cryptococcal infection in their differential diagnosis for isolated adrenal gland and pancreas lesions.
(1) 背景:新型隐球菌主要因引发脑膜炎而为人所知,可伴有或不伴有播散性疾病。(2) 病例介绍:一名75岁免疫功能低下的男性肾移植术后出现全身无力、精神状态改变、低氧血症和低钠血症,被发现患有播散性隐球菌感染。经过初步改善后,患者突然出现低血压,并很快去世。尸检显示隐球菌广泛累及,受影响最严重的器官是脑、肺、胰腺、肾上腺和脾脏。胰腺和其中一个肾上腺显示弥漫性肉芽肿性隐球菌感染,伴有大面积坏死。脾脏也显示大面积隐球菌坏死。此外,患者有乳糜性腹水,组织学检查未发现病原体。(3) 结论:这是一例罕见的播散性隐球菌感染病例,除了脾脏、肺和中枢神经系统受累外,还伴有严重的坏死性肾上腺炎和胰腺炎。早期识别并通过手术干预治疗肾上腺和胰腺隐球菌病可能会使受影响患者获得更好的预后。此外,类固醇治疗和糖尿病可能是肾上腺受累的危险因素。此外,临床医生在鉴别诊断孤立性肾上腺和胰腺病变时应考虑隐球菌感染。