Cryptococcal myositis and vasculitis: an unusual necrotizing soft tissue infection

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans is an opportunistic yeast that typically infects immunocompromised patients. METHODS: A case report and review of the pertinent English-language literature are presented. RESULTS: Necrotizing vasculitis associated with cryptococcal invasion was identified in 1986. Until now, only 24 cases of cryptococcal cellulitis have been reported, including one case of cryptococcal necrotizing fasciitis and one case of necrotizing vasculitis. We report an unusual case of occult disseminated cryptococcosis presenting as necrotizing cellulitis, fasciitis, and myositis. CONCLUSIONS: Cryptococcal soft tissue infection serves as a marker of disseminated cryptococcosis in immunocompromised hosts. Owing to its rarity as a cause of soft tissue infections, diagnosis is difficult and mortality is high.