An unusual case of stroke.

New imaging techniques have allowed for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of stroke. In this case, we present a 58-year-old woman with multiple large vessel strokes on magnetic resonance imaging. The initial diagnostic workup centered on a rapidly progressive central nervous system vasculitis. Subsequent workup revealed an unusual infectious etiology--cryptococcal meningitis. Although fungal infections can cause vasculitis, this is the first report of a patient with multiple anterior and posterior circulation strokes secondary to Cryptococcus. The diagnosis in cases presenting with encepalopathy and without fever is often delayed.