Invasive chromoblastomycosis and sinusitis due to Phialophora verrucosa in a child from northern Africa

• Published in: Mycoses Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 456 - 461
• Main Authors: Hofmann, H., Choi, S.-M., Wilsmann-Theis, D., Horré, R., de Hoog, G. S., Bieber, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berling, Germany Blackwell Verlag, GmbH 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; black yeast; Child; chromoblastomycosis; Chromoblastomycosis - microbiology; Chromoblastomycosis - pathology; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Face - microbiology; Face - pathology; Female; human infection; Humans; Itraconazole - administration & dosage; Itraconazole - therapeutic use; Libya; Phialophora - cytology; Phialophora - isolation & purification; Phialophora verrucosa; Phylogeny; rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Sinusitis - microbiology; Sinusitis - pathology; Upper Extremity - microbiology; Upper Extremity - pathology; Libya
• ISSN: 0933-7407; 1439-0507
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2005.01150.x

Summary We report on a severe, verrucous facial mycosis and sinusitis in a 12‐year‐old Libyan girl. Her disease started with verrucous, hyperkeratotic plaques and subcutaneous violet nodules of unknown origin on her face and upper extremities. Despite topical antimycotic therapy she needed in‐hospital treatment because of severely progressive tumorous cutaneous and nasal lesions. Microscopic examination of scale samples taken from the upper extremities and the face revealed brown, thick‐walled fungal elements. Under the assumption of a chromoblastomycosis, an oral treatment with itraconazole and fluorocytosin was initiated, with significant improvement of the lesions. The aetiological agent was identified as Phialophora verrucosa.