[New cases of chromoblastomycosis: importances of anatomo-pathologic examinations]

Several cases of chromoblastomycosis have been observed, for 7 years, in the laboratory of Pathology, in the IMTSSA . Their various aspects are described. The diagnosis includes three stages: clinic, mycology and pathology. The most frequent clinical lesions have been observed on the legs. Often, they were like a malignant tumour (carcinoma). The fungal investigation, by direct research of fungi in the lesions, is carried out scarcely, because it is difficult. It should be completed by cultures, in order to isolate the pathogenic agent, but its identification is not possible, if it is not carried out by a laboratory of mycology. The most simple technique , adapted to tropical areas, is the pathological examination. It reveals several points of interest: by analyzing the cutaneous lesions (in order to eliminate a carcinoma)--observing the intensity of the inflammatory reaction--but, first of all, the discovery of the thick-walled dark cells. Two techniques are usual, for staining, but they could be improved by using other special techniques, in order to analyse more carefully the lesions.