Cryptococcus of bone marrow – A case report in non-HIV and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient

Infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs). Factors contributing to increased risk of infection include the nature of the underlying disease itself as well as treatment-induced immunosuppression. Disseminated cryptococcosis is predominantly seen in human immunodeficiency virus-infected people and less commonly seen in individuals with preserved immune function. Other conditions that suppress the host immunity such as hematologic malignancies, organ transplantation, and immunosuppressive drugs are implicated as risk factors. Most commonly, it affects the lungs, followed by the central nervous system, skin, and bone marrow. Here, we present a case of Cryptococcus in a known and treated case of NHL, presented with seizures, vomiting, headache, and fever. Bone marrow examination clinched the diagnosis which showed diffuse infiltration by atypical lymphoid cells along with extracellular encapsulated yeasts which were variably sized with narrow-based budding.