RT Journal
A1 Gaskill, Trevor
A1 Payne, Diane
A1 Brigman, Brian
T1 Cryptococcal Abscess Imitating a Soft-Tissue Sarcoma in an Immunocompetent HostA Case Report
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2010
FD August 4
VO 92
IS 9
SP 1890
OP 1893
DO 10.2106/JBJS.I.01091
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.I.01091
AB 
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous encapsulated yeast found throughout the world. Although it is only occasionally a pathogen in immunocompetent hosts, it emerged in the 1980s as an important opportunistic infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Infection typically begins in the lungs and can disseminate, causing central nervous system dysfunction, cutaneous manifestations, and, occasionally, osteomyelitis in up to 10% of cases1,2. Noncutaneous cryptococcal abscesses in an immunocompetent host are exceedingly rare, and, to our knowledge, a soft-tissue cryptococcal abscess in an immunocompetent host has not been previously reported. We present the successful treatment of an isolated cryptococcal abscess, initially thought to be a soft-tissue sarcoma, in an immunocompetent host. The case of our patient adds to the current treatment literature and highlights the importance of having a tissue diagnosis prior to surgical intervention. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he consented.