GetTheDiagnosis.org

Welcome, guest.
Login or Sign up to edit.

Add an entry

Search:
 

Tools

Add a finding for this diagnosis

Add prevalence for this diagnosis

Switch to calculator mode to see positive predictive value

Switch to likelihood ratios

Sort findings by Tag

Sort findings by Differential Diagnosis

Jump To

Sensitive and Specific Findings

Sensitive Findings

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Cryptococcal Meningitis: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: Cryptococcal meningitis is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and typically causes extremely high intracerebral pressures. Note that the serum antigen test is sensitive for AIDS patients only.

[Edit Diagnosis] [Merge dx] [Add prevalence]

Tags: Infection Neurologic Tag this Diagnosis.

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Cryptococcal Meningitis are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Sensitive and Specific Findings

Finding SensitivitySpecificity Comments, Study
Cryptococcal Antigen in CSF Edit 93%93%

at least 93% sensitivity and specificity (depending on the kit), versus culture as gold standard

similar sensitivity numbers from different series, across host types (see second reference)

Study: J Clin Microbiol. 1994;32(7):1680-4. PMID 7929757

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Nov;43(11):5828-9. PMID: 16272534

Sensitive Findings

Finding SensitivitySpecificity Comments, Study
Cryptococcal Antigen in Serum
Duplicate Edit
99%83.3%

in AIDS patients!

Specificity is from the first reference, which gives a sensitivity of only 91%.

Study: J Med Assoc Thai. 1999;82(1):65-71. PMID 10087741

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Nov;43(11):5828-9. PMID: 16272534

Cryptococcal Antigen in Serum
Duplicate Edit
Sensitivity = 87%

non-HIV immunocompromised. No data for immunocompetent hosts.

Study: J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Nov;43(11):5828-9. PMID: 16272534

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Finding SensitivitySpecificity Comments, Study
India Ink stain of CSF Edit Sensitivity = 75%

in AIDS patients. sensitivity is 50% in non-AIDS patients

Study: UpToDate, references PMID 3299095 and PMID 4811791

Non-contrast Head CT Edit Sensitivity = 17%

abnormal findings include cryptococcomas and hydrocephalus. these were more common in non-AIDS and especially immunocompetent hosts.

Study: Clin Infect Dis. (2000) 31 (2): 499-508. http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/2/499.long