Cryptococcosis Questions & Answers

Updated: May 11, 2021
  • Author: Pradeep Kumar Mada, MD, MRCP(UK); Chief Editor: Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is cryptococcosis?

What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary cryptococcosis?

What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary cryptococcosis in patients with HIV infection?

Which physical findings are characteristic of pulmonary cryptococcosis?

What are the signs and symptoms of CNS cryptococcosis?

What are the cutaneous manifestations of cryptococcosis?

What are the less common forms of cryptococcosis?

What is the role of lab testing in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis?

Which radiographic findings suggest pulmonary cryptococcosis?

When is antifungal therapy indicated in the treatment of cryptococcosis?

How is cryptococcal meningitis treated in patients with AIDS?

How is CSF pressure controlled during treatment of cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS?

How do antiretrovirals affect the treatment of cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS?

What are treatment options for cryptococcal meningitis in immunocompetent patients?

What are the criteria for management of pulmonary cryptococcosis with observation only?

What is the role of antifungal therapy in the treatment of cryptococcosis?

What is cryptococcosis?

What is the mycology of cryptococcosis?

Where is cryptococcosis most prevalent?

What is the historical background of cryptococcosis?

What is the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis?

What are characteristics of C neoformans infection, in relation to cryptococcosis?

What is the prevalence of cryptococcosis in the United States?

What is the global prevalence of cryptococcosis?

What is the mortality and morbidity of cryptococcosis?

What is the racial predilection of cryptococcosis?

What is the sexual predilection of cryptococcosis?

Which age groups have the highest prevalence of cryptococcosis?

Presentation

What determines the focus of medical history in the evaluation of cryptococcosis?

Which clinical history findings are characteristic of pulmonary cryptococcosis?

Which clinical history findings are characteristic of CNS cryptococcosis?

Which clinical history findings suggest cryptococcosis in the skin, prostate or bones?

What are the less common forms of cryptococcosis?

What are physical findings in patients with cryptococcosis?

Which physical findings are characteristic of pulmonary cryptococcosis?

Which physical findings are characteristic of CNS cryptococcosis?

Which cutaneous findings suggest cryptococcosis?

Which physical findings are characteristic of bone involvement in cryptococcosis?

Which ocular findings suggest cryptococcosis?

Which physical findings are characteristic of prostate involvement in cryptococcosis?

Which imaging findings help differentiate cryptococcosis from other causes of intracranial mass lesions and infections?

Which conditions can be confused with cryptococcal meningitis?

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses for pulmonary cryptococcosis?

Which cutaneous conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses for cryptococcosis?

Which bone conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses for cryptococcosis?

What causes cryptococcosis?

DDX

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses for cryptococcosis?

What are the differential diagnoses for Cryptococcosis?

Workup

What is the role of lab studies in the workup of cryptococcosis?

What is the role of smear and culture in the workup of cryptococcosis?

What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of cryptococcosis?

What is the role of lumbar puncture in the workup of cryptococcosis?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of cryptococcosis?

Treatment

What are the treatment options for cryptococcosis?

How are cryptococcosis infections treated in patients with AIDS?

How is cryptococcosis treated in immunocompetent patients?

How is pulmonary cryptococcosis treated in immunocompetent patients?

How is extraneural nonpulmonary cryptococcosis treated in immunocompetent patients?

How is cryptococcoma treated?

Which medications are used in the initial therapy of disseminated or CNS cryptococcosis?

Which medications are contraindicated in the treatment of disseminated or CNS cryptococcosis?

Which medications are being investigated for use in the treatment of cryptococcosis?

What is the role of surgery in the treatment of cryptococcosis?

Which specialists should be consulted in the treatment of cryptococcosis?

Medications

What is the goal of drug treatment for cryptococcosis?

Which medications in the drug class Antifungal agents are used in the treatment of Cryptococcosis?

Follow-up

What is included in the long-term monitoring of patients treated for cryptococcosis?

What is included in the inpatient care of cryptococcosis?

Which medications are used in the treatment of cryptococcosis?

When is transfer indicated for the management of cryptococcosis?

How is cryptococcosis prevented?

What are complications of cryptococcosis?

What is the prognosis of cryptococcosis?

What is included in patient education about cryptococcosis?