[Pathohistological characteristics of dermatophytic onychomycosis]

A pathohistological study was made of the tissues taken from the distal phalanx of the great toe of 30 dead bodies with clinical picture of mycotic infection of nail plates. Onychomycosis was confirmed by the presence of pathogenic fungal myceliem detected microscopically. It is established that the fungus, in total onychomycosis, penetrates from the nail plate into the skin epidermis, connective tissue, bone and into the bone marrow of the phalanx. Cyst formation was found deep in the prickle-cell layer. Inflammation was rather weak reflecting a weak reactive response to the fungus presence.