A Case of Primary Cryptococcosis of the Pharyngo-epiglottic Fold in an Immunocompetent Patient

Abstract

Cryptococcus is a pathogenic fungus that can cause various infections mainly in an immunocompromised host. Cryptococcal yeasts are easily inhaled, so pulmonary infection is the most commonly encountered, but in immunocompetent status, primary cryptococcosis occurs rarely in the pharyngo-epiglottic fold. A 75-year-old male came to our clinic with the complaint of foreign body sensation in the throat that lasted for three months. Rigid laryngoscopy showed a circular mass in the pharyngo-epiglottic fold and we performed laryngeal microsurgery with CO2 laser to remove it. The patient was pathologically diagnosed as cryptococcosis. We report this case of rare, atypical cryptococcosis in the pharyngo-epiglottic fold along with a related literature review.