Cutaneous lobomycosis: a delayed diagnosis.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Mycology

Background:

• Lobomycosis is a chronic fungal infection typically found in Central and South America.
• Cutaneous manifestations are the hallmark of this disease, caused by the fungus Lacazia loboi.

Observation:

• Two South African patients presented with distinct, long-standing skin lesions.
• One patient had lesions on the foot, arm, and face; the other had a fungating tumor on the back.

Findings:

• Microscopic examination revealed granulomatous inflammation with characteristic yeast-like organisms in both patients.
• Special stains confirmed the presence of uniform, spherical to oval organisms with tubular connections, consistent with Lacazia loboi.

Implications:

• This report highlights the rare occurrence of lobomycosis outside its endemic regions.
• It underscores the importance of considering unusual fungal infections in dermatological diagnoses, even in non-endemic areas.