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Granulomatous prostatitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans: diagnostic usefulness of special stains and molecular analysis of 18S rDNA

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 11, pages 203–206 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

A 57-year-old Japanese man complained of pain on micturition. The prostate was of normal size but hard. Transrectal needle biopsy demonstrated granulomatous prostatitis with small focal abscesses. Staining with periodic acid-Schiff, Grocott's methenamine silver and Fontana-Masson revealed yeast-form fungus in the granulomas. The mucoid capsule of the fungus stained with mucicarmine. PCR specific for cryptococcal 18S rDNA using DNA extracted from the pathological specimen was positive, and the sequence was homologous to Cryptococcus neoformans. A diagnosis of cryptococcal granulomatous prostatitis was made. The patient was then found to suffer from meningitis and lung abscess, and was treated with amphotericin B and flucytosine. Careful histological and molecular studies are beneficial to reach the correct diagnosis and to prevent an unfavorable outcome of disseminated cryptococcosis.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Drummond Bowden for his excellent help in reviewing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan

    R Wada, N Nakano, N Yajima & S Yagihashi

  2. Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan

    T Yoneyama

  3. Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan

    Y Wakasaya & C Murakami

  4. Yamato Urology Clinic, Hirosaki, Japan

    K Yamato

Authors
  1. R Wada
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  2. N Nakano
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  3. N Yajima
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  4. T Yoneyama
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  7. K Yamato
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  8. S Yagihashi
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Correspondence to R Wada.

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Wada, R., Nakano, N., Yajima, N. et al. Granulomatous prostatitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans: diagnostic usefulness of special stains and molecular analysis of 18S rDNA. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 11, 203–206 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4501031

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4501031

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