Thoracolumbar scoliosis due to cryptococcal osteomyelitis a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, with vertebral osteomyelitis being a very rare involvement. This study is to present a case of thoracolumbar scoliosis occurring in the setting of cryptococcal osteomyelitis. Pharmacological intervention with anticryptococcal medicine and medical management of immune hemolytic anemia were administered. After initial acute stabilization, she underwent spinal debridement and fusion on October 29, 2008. She eventually recovered fully from this episode with no subsequent mechanical instability or neurological deficits on subsequent clinic follow-ups. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports describing the onset of spinal cryptococcal osteomyelitis along with immune hemolytic anemia. We suggest a comprehensive algorithm for the diagnosis of vertebral cryptococcal osteomyelitis.