Diagnosis and treatment of nonadjacent cryptococcal infections at the L1 and S1 vertebrae

Cryptococcal spine infections are rare infections that are easy to misdiagnose and difficult to cure. Therefore, we report the case of a 25-year-old man who presented with nonspecific spinal lesions at L1 and S1. The patient underwent surgical removal of the lesions, and specimens were submitted for microbial identification, which identified a cryptococcal infection that was susceptible to amphotericin B. The patient exhibited marked improvement after receiving intravenous amphotericin B and remained asymptomatic (no back pain, fever, or other symptoms) at the 3‑ and 9‑month follow-ups. Similar cases of cryptococcal spine infections are rare, and we believe that our diagnostic findings and treatment experience may help improve the management of this rare disease.