Isolated cryptococcosis of the adrenal gland

Cryptococcal invasion: a comprehensive case of adrenal and systemic infection amid immunosuppression

We report a case of disseminated cryptococcosis, an uncommon fungal infection predominantly affecting the lungs and central nervous system, with the rare involvement of adrenal cryptococcosis, compounded by meningitis and pneumonia. The patient, previously diagnosed with primary myelofibrosis and undergoing oral Ruxolitinib treatment, exhibited immunosuppression. Imaging via chest and abdominal CT scans revealed inflammation in the right lung's middle lobe, splenomegaly, a splenic lesion, and a left adrenal mass, initially prompting considerations of pheochromocytoma. However, unilateral adrenalectomy and subsequent pathological examination disclosed extensive infiltration by inflammatory and multinucleate giant cells, with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining confirming the diagnosis. The identification of adrenal cryptococcosis was further supported by positive adrenal pus culture and significantly elevated capsular antigens in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, at titers of 1:2560. Following a month of oral antifungal treatment, marked reductions in capsular antigen levels were noted, to 1:640 and 1:160 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, respectively. The patient was discharged on a regimen of oral amphotericin B, flucytosine, and fluconazole, with regular outpatient follow-ups showing no signs of recurrence or dissemination.

Diffuse Adrenal Gland and Pancreas Necrosis in a Patient with Disseminated Cryptococcosis-Case Report

(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.

Cryptococcosis complicating diabetes mellitus: a scoping review

Background:

A better understanding of the epidemiology of cryptococcal infection in HIV-negative individuals is an international research interest. Immune dysfunction in diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly increases the risk of acquiring and reactivation of infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans. Risk factors and outcomes of cryptococcosis in DM are not well documented.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cryptococcal infections in persons living with DM.

Methods:

MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched in November 2020. The searches covered the period between 1980 and 2020.We included studies that reported confirmed cryptococcosis in patients with DM. Reference lists of included articles were also searched, and additional studies were included if appropriate. No language restriction was applied. Single case reports, case series and original articles were included whereas review articles were excluded.

Results:

A total of 28 studies (24 single case reports, 4 retrospectives) were included involving 47 unique patients from Asia (17 cases), North America (six cases), South America (three cases) and Africa (two cases). Men constituted 75% (n = 18) of the cases. Median age was 60.5 (range: 27–79) years. The majority of the patients had cryptococcal meningitis (68.1%, n = 32) followed by disseminated cryptococcosis (6.4%, n = 7), and others (isolated cutaneous disease one, peritonitis one, pleural one, thyroid one, adrenal one). Diagnosis was achieved through either culture and microscopy (38/47), cryptococcal antigen tests (9/47) or histopathology (9/47) singly or in a combination. All-cause mortality was 38.3% (n = 18). Among those with meningitis mortality was 36.2%.

Conclusion:

A wide spectrum of cryptococcal infections with varying severity occurs in DM. Mortality remains unacceptably high. There is a need for more studies to characterize better cryptococcal disease in DM.

Normalization of Bilateral Adrenal Gland Enlargement after Treatment for Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis usually occurs in immunocompromised patients and can cause enlargement of the adrenal glands, although the morphologic changes after treatment have not been reported in detail. We report the case of 24-year-old man with fevers, headaches, and impaired consciousness who had been treated with glucocorticoids for a protein-losing gastroenteropathy. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed cryptococcal meningitis. Computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal enlargement. A retrospective analysis revealed that the enlargement had been detected 5 months before admission and gradually increased. The enlargement was improved with antifungal therapy and normalized 6 months later. This is the first report describing morphological changes in the adrenal glands associated with cryptococcal meningitis. Adrenal enlargement by cryptococcosis can be improved without any abnormal findings, including calcifications, which may be a unique characteristic from other diseases, including tuberculosis.

Isolated adrenal cryptococcosis, diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy: a case report

This report documents a case of isolated adrenal gland cryptococcosis without the often reported component of concomitant meningitis or Addison's disease in an immune competent patient. Furthermore, both the patient's lung cancer and adrenal infection with cryptococcus were incidentally discovered during work-up for syncope in the setting of hyponatremia. This case also underscores the diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in this unusual presentation.

Successful management of cryptococcosis of the bilateral adrenal glands and liver by unilateral adrenalectomy with antifungal agents: a case report

Background

Cryptococcus species usually affect the central nervous system and lungs in immunocompromised hosts. Although the adrenal glands can be involved in disseminated cryptococcosis, primary adrenal insufficiency caused by the fungal infection is uncommon.

Case presentation

We present a case of primary adrenal insufficiency with bilateral adrenal masses and liver invasion in a 43-year-old man with mild type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cryptococcosis was diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the liver mass. The serum cryptococcal antigen titer was elevated to 1:256. After 6 months of antifungal therapy with fluconazole and amphotericin B, the size of the liver mass was decreased, but no significant changes were observed in the bilateral adrenal masses and the serum cryptococcal antigen titer remained elevated at 1:128. To control the cryptococcosis, a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was performed, followed by antifungal therapy. After the unilateral adrenalectomy, the size of the remaining right adrenal mass was reduced and the serum cryptococcal antigen titer declined to 1:4.

Conclusions

This is the first report describing adrenal cryptococcosis with adrenal insufficiency and liver invasion without central nervous system involvement. Adrenal cryptococcosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with bilateral adrenal masses with primary adrenal deficiency. Unilateral adrenalectomy was quite effective in controlling the cryptococcosis in this case. Even in patients with bilateral adrenal cryptococcosis, unilateral adrenalectomy should be an option for treatment of disseminated cryptococcosis.

Adrenal infections

Adrenal infections are an important but under-recognized clinical entity. The adrenal gland can be infected by a myriad of pathogens including fungi, viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Infection can directly or indirectly cause tissue damage and alteration in endocrine function. Direct damage occurs via microbial replication and local production of toxic compounds, such as endotoxins. Indirect damage results from alterations in the regulation of a host's immunologic and endocrine mediators in response to damage by a microbe at a distant site. Variations in pathogen tropism, adrenal anatomy, and host immune integrity contribute to the progression of active disease and discernable adrenal dysfunction. Early recognition and intervention in the case of adrenal infection can significantly improve outcome, demonstrating the need for increased clinical suspicion in the appropriate clinical setting.

Cryptococcal mesenteric lymphadenitis: an unusual cause of acute abdomen

Cryptococcal infection of intraabdominal organs or tissues is extremely rare. Herein we report a child with mesenteric cryptococcal lymphadenitis who presented with an acute abdomen misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis. Definitive diagnosis was established with 2nd look and lymph node biopsy. Clinicians should remember that cryptococcal infection of mesenteric lymph nodes may rarely mimic an acute abdomen and cause delay in diagnosis.

Isolated Pneumocystis carinii infection of adrenal glands causing Addison's disease in a non-immunocompromised adult

Pneumocystis carinii is primarily an opportunistic pathogen infecting patients with AIDS and other immunocompromised patients, and ordinarily does not affect immunocompetent persons. We report isolated P. carinii infection of bilateral adrenal glands in a non-immunocompromised adult male, leading to fatal Addisonian crisis. Diagnosis of P. carinii was established on the basis of cytopathology and microbiological tests, using conventional staining techniques and direct immunofluorescence on ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates and trucut needle biopsy specimen from adrenal glands. P. carinii pneumonia and other fungal infections of the adrenal glands were excluded by appropriate tests. Absence of HIV infection was established by negative ELISA for HIV I and II antibodies and Western blot analysis at the time of presentation and 45 d later. Normal blood total leukocyte and CD4 lymphocyte counts and IgG and IgA levels confirmed the immunocompetent status of the patient. The patient improved with anti-Pneumocystis treatment and corticosteroid replacement, but succumbed to an episode of Addisonian crisis triggered by a diarrheal illness.

Disseminated cryptococcosis associated with adrenal masses and insufficiency

A case of primary adrenal insufficiency with bilateral adrenal masses and meningitis due to disseminated cryptococcosis in a patient with mild non-insulin-dependent diabetes is presented. The diagnosis was made by fine-needle aspiration biopsy cytology. Although the meningitis responded to antifungal therapy, the bilateral adrenal gland enlargement did not change. Reflecting this, cryptococcal antigen titers became negative in CSF, but fell to 1:8 in serum. Although antifungal therapy continued, cryptococcal antigen titer increased both in CSF and serum for 50 days. Because the adrenal glands were the apparent focus for the persistent fungemia, bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. Antifungal therapy for an additional 15 months was needed to achieve negative serum cryptococcal antigen titers. Although adrenal insufficiency due to disseminated cryptococcosis is rare in healthy hosts, it should be included in differential diagnosis of unilateral and bilateral adrenal masses.

Cryptococcosis presenting as a neck mass

A rare case of cryptococcal infection presenting as a neck mass in an otherwise healthy individual is reported. The mass resulted in lytic destruction of portions of the cervical vertebrae and produced a focal neurologic deficit in one of the upper extremities. Although other lesions in the skull, femur, and humerus were identified, no involvement of the lungs or central nervous system could be detected. The patient was initially treated with amphotericin B and flucytosine, but eventually also required fluconazole and surgical debridement for complete resolution of the infection. The diagnosis, treatment, and manifestations of cryptococcosis in the head and neck are discussed.