Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Phaeohyphomycosis is a rare fungal infection with increasing prevalence in immunosuppressed patients, particularly solid organ transplant recipients.
• The infection can manifest as mucocutaneous or disseminated disease, with cutaneous forms often resulting from direct fungal inoculation through trauma.
• Cutaneous lesions are variable, can be asymptomatic, and typically appear on exposed areas like limbs and head.

Observation:

• This report details three cases of phaeohyphomycosis presenting with cutaneous involvement.
• The presented cases exhibit a range of clinical features, severity, and disease progression.

Findings:

• The clinical diversity and variable evolution of phaeohyphomycosis underscore the challenges in diagnosis and management.
• Successful diagnosis relies on high clinical suspicion to prompt appropriate microscopic examination and mycological culture.

Implications:

• Dermatologists must be vigilant in recognizing phaeohyphomycosis due to its varied clinical presentations.
• Prompt diagnosis through microscopy and culture, guided by clinical suspicion, is essential for effective management of this emerging fungal infection.