[Cryptococcosis: a potential aetiology of facial ulceration]

Abstract

Cutaneous cryptococcosis is an uncommon aetiology of chronic facial ulceration but which may be associated to a potentially lethal focus of cryptococcosis.

Observation: A 35-year-old AIDS patient under antiretroviral therapy, presented with a chronic facial ulceration. Histopathological examination of a biopsy of the facial ulceration showed an inflammatory granuloma and masses of yeasts. Mycological culture of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed Cryptococcus neoformans. The diagnosis of AIDS-related cutaneous cryptococcosis of the face and cryptococcal meningitis was concluded.

Discussion: Cryptococcosis should be thought as a potential aetiology of a chronic facial ulceration in an AIDS patient. Screening of other foci of the cryptococcosis such as that of the central nervous system is mandatory. Mycological examinations are of great interest for the diagnosis in rare resources setting.

Keywords: AIDS; Cryptococcose cutanée; Cryptococcose multifocale; Cryptococcose méningée; Cutaneous cryptococcosis; Disseminated cryptococcosis; Facial ulceration; Meningitis cryptococcosis; Sida; Ulcération faciale.