Cryptococcus, Immunodeficiency, Acquired - DermAtlas

Contributor

Kim Hiatt, MD

Diagnosis

cryptococcus immunodeficiency, acquired

Body Site

hand

Age

30 years

Pigmentation

dark

Organization

Color

Morphology

Pattern

Comments

Although the capsule does not stain with hemotoxylin-eosin or the PAS reaction, the presence of acid mucopolysaccharides results in metachromatic purple staining with methylene blue, blue staining with alcian blue, and red staining with mucicarmine. When the spore develops a wide gelatinous capsule, inflammation is minimal leading to the so-called gelatinous reaction. Yeast cells do not form a capsule and usually elicit an intense granulomatous inflammatory reaction.

Description

High power shows aggregates of spores with large capsules that do not stain with H&E resulting in large surrounding clear spaces.

Image Added

4/7/2002 10:46:47

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Other Resources

PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

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