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Case Reports
. 2008 Nov;139(4):246-51.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2008.06.007. Epub 2008 Sep 9.

Spinal cryptococcoma in an immunocompetent cat

S Belluco  1 , J L Thibaud, J Guillot, M B Krockenberger, M Wyers, S Blot, M A Colle
Affiliations
Case Reports

Spinal cryptococcoma in an immunocompetent cat

S Belluco et al. J Comp Pathol. 2008 Nov.

Abstract

This report describes an unusual case of primary cryptococcoma in the proximal thoracic spinal cord of an 11-year-old immunocompetent cat from a farm on which there were large numbers of pigeons. This animal was referred for examination with progressive paralysis and shown to be free from feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus, feline coronavirus and Toxoplasma gondii. It died 2 months later. At necropsy, the only lesion detected was a malacic area, 4cm in length, in the spinal cord. Histopathological examination of the spinal cord revealed severe granulomatous inflammation associated with large numbers of encapsulated yeast cells. In addition to the granulomatous host response, necrosis, digestion chambers, Gitter cells, spheroids and lymphocytic perivascular cuffs were features of the malacic areas. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii yeast cells.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Post-contrast sagittal T1-weighted image of the cervical and thoracic spine. The cryptococcoma was observed as an isointense mass with peripheral enhancement (open arrowhead). Secondary syringohydromyelia was also noted in the cervical spine (arrowheads).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Thoracic spinal cord, sagittal section: in the grey and the white matter, a 4 cm malacic lesion is present.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Thoracic spinal cord: effacing the spinal cord, a discrete granulomatous lesion characterized by a large number of foamy macrophages is present. It is associated with lymphocytic perivascular cuffs, localized at the edges of the lesion, and vascular hyperaemia. HE. Bar, 400 μm.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Thoracic spinal cord: granuloma composed of many foamy macrophages and myriads of round, intra- and extra-cellular yeasts. HE. Bar, 40 μm. Fungal capsule stained with PAS (top inset) and mucicarmine (bottom inset). Insets: ×100.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Labelling of cryptococcal yeast cells with F10F5 antibody, against var. grubii and var. neoformans capsular antigens. IHC. Bar, 20 μm.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Labelling of cryptococcal yeast cells with 302 antibody, against var. grubii and var. neoformans capsular antigens. IHC. Bar, 20 μm.
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