Extradural lumbar cryptococcosis

Abstract

An 85-yr-old woman presented with back and leg pain. Plain films showed destruction of the posterior elements of L-5 and myelography demonstrated a large extradural mass at that level. Exploration revealed a huge gelatinous extradural mass with invasion of the paraspinal muscles. Fungal stains showed that the mass consisted of innumerable cryptococci. There was no evidence of cryptococcal involvement elsewhere.