Cutaneous and mucosal manifestations of the deep mycotic infections

The deep mycoses are increasing in importance both as opportunistic infections and from exposure in geographically defined areas. Diagnosis may be difficult in both groups. Mucosal involvement may be non-specific (e.g., in disseminated candidiasis) or highly predictive of disseminated disease (e.g., histoplasmosis, blastomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis). Skin involvement is generally uncommon in disseminated aspergillosis, mucormycosis and cryptococcosis but is more common in candidemia and coccidioidomycosis. Manifestations of mucosal and cutaneous lesions of the deep mycoses are reviewed and the need for an aggressive diagnostic approach stressed. Culture is more specific than histopathologic examination alone but the latter may have to suffice in some cases. Control of underlying disease and administration of amphotericin B remain the mainstays of therapy. Ketoconazole is being evaluated as an alternative in therapy of some deep mycoses.