Cryptococcus neoformans laryngitis is a rare fungal infection of the larynx.
Cause
The infection usually occurs as a primary pulmonary infection but can spread to other regions of the body.
Symptoms
Common characteristics of cryptococcus neoformans include longstanding hoarseness, sore throat, or edema of the vocal cords.
Treatment
Cryptococcus neoformans laryngitis is treated with oral anti-fungal medications such as fluconazole.
Read more: Bacterial Laryngitis, Ulcerative Laryngitis, Nonorganic voice disorder, Laryngopharynx acid reflux disease, Viral Laryngitis, Laryngitis Sicca, Post-surgical Laryngitis, Candida Laryngitis and Pharyngitis
Cryptococcus Infection of the Larynx
Panoramic view (1 of 6)
Panoramic view of laryngeal vestibule in a man with very longstanding hoarseness and sore throat. Note intense redness and bumpy mucosal surface. Biopsy revealed Cryptococcus neoformans.
Closer view (2 of 6)
Closer view of the vocal cords shows similar intense inflammation and rough surface.
One year later (3 of 6)
After a one-year course of fluconazole, an oral anti-fungal medication. Symptoms are gone. The larynx is no longer inflamed, and the mucosal surface is smooth. White area of scarring (dotted surround), and scar band (parallel dotted lines).
One year later, close-up (4 of 6)
Close-up of the vocal cords shows similar resolution of redness and cobblestoned surface.
4 years later (5 of 6)
The patient has been lost to followup and re-presented with increased hoarseness and sore throat. Here, we see what appears to be recrudescence of the infection with granularity throughout the laryngeal vestibule.
Fungal re-growth (6 of 6)
At closer range, note the granularity of laryngeal petiole and false vocal cords. The vocal cords are in the distance, but also involved by the fungal re-growth.
