Brain: cryptococcal meningoencephalitis

Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis This is a coronal slice through the basal ganglia of a brain from an HIV-positive adult with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. The meningeal component is shown by the pale, thickened meninges at the left edge. Numerous small cystic spaces are present in the brain substance, in both the grey and white matter. These contain cryptococcal yeasts and are gelatinous because of the large mucoid capsules that surround the yeast cells.