Diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis via iliac bone marrow aspirate analysis

IDCases. 2024 Dec 16:39:e02136. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2024.e02136. eCollection 2025.

Abstract

HIV infection frequently affects multiple systems, with hematological manifestations being the most prevalent. In some cases, cryptococcosis serves as the initial manifestation and a cause of infection involving HIV-positive patients. This case report describes a patient with thrombocytopenia who incidentally discovered Cryptococcus infiltrating the bone marrow upon bone marrow smear examination, highlighting that examining bone marrow is essential in diagnosing pancytopenia resulting from opportunistic fungal infections like cryptococcosis, especially in individuals with compromised immune systems.