Mesenchymoma and Visceral Cryptococcosis

The present report concerns a 23-year-old Negro with two unusual diseases. The behavior of each was atypical, and both responded dramatically to a single operation. Malignant mesenchymomas are rare sarcomas with poor prognosis, and frequently involve the genitourinary system. Cryptococcosis, which is also usually associated with a high mortality rate, most commonly involves the central nervous system or lungs. In the present case, a mesenchymoma arose in the lower extremity, andCryptococcus neoformanswas cultured from biopsy specimens of the liver and abdominal lymph nodes. Marked systemic abnormalities were present, including fever, loss of weight, anemia, and thrombocytosis. The patient also had hepatomegaly, with altered liver functions and ascites. Which of the two diseases caused the individual signs could not be determined with certainty, but most of the abnormalities disappeared after removal of the tumor. Report of Case A 23-year-old Negro (#03-75-60) was admitted to the Surgery Branch of the