Sweet Syndrome Imitating Cutaneous Cryptococcal Disease

• Authors: Ariel A. Jordan, University of Michigan; Daniel Graciaa, Emory University; Srinivasa N. Gopalsamy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Stewart G. Neill, Emory University; Douglas C Parker, Emory University; Laura Aspey, Emory University; Jeffrey Collins, Emory University
• Journal Title: OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
• Volume: Volume 9, Number 11
• Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC | 2022-11-02, Pages ofac608-ofac608
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac608
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Microbiology; Cryptococcus; mimics; neutrophilic dermatosis; Sweet syndrome; LATERAL FLOW ASSAY; NEUTROPHILIC DERMATITIS; DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

Cryptococcoid Sweet syndrome is a rare histologic variant of the neutrophilic dermatosis presenting clinically with skin lesions typical of classical Sweet syndrome but with yeast-like structures suggestive of Cryptococcus on histopathology. Histochemical stains for fungus and cultures are negative whereas staining for myeloperoxidase is positive. We present 2 cases of cryptococcoid Sweet syndrome with atypical skin manifestations, including hemorrhagic bullae and plaques, and provide a brief review of the literature. Clinicians should be aware that this variant of Sweet syndrome can present with uncommon clinical findings and has histopathologic findings suggestive of Cryptococcus species.