A Clinical and Etiological Analysis of Subcutaneous Mycoses / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There have been many studies about sporotrichosis in Korean dermatological literature. However, a few studies have reported on subcutaneous mycoses other than sporotrichosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and etiological aspects of subcutaneous mycoses. METHODS: In the 20-year-period 1996-2015, we reviewed seventeen patients with subcutaneous mycoses with in regards to the age, gender, occupation, trauma history and associated diseases. The patients with subcutaneous mycoses were further evaluated concerning the clinical manifestations, histopathology, culture of organisms and treatment. RESULTS: Age of the subcutaneous mycosis was most prevalent in the sixties (35.2%). The male-tofemale ratio was 11.8. Most patients were farmers (52.8%), although preceding trauma was noted in seven patients (41.2%). The most common skin lesion was erythematous plaque (58.7%), followed by abscess, ulcer, papule and nodule. The most frequently involved area was upper extremities (58.8%), followed by face, and lower extremities. Hyalohyphomycosis was the most common infection in 6 cases (35.2%), followed by sporotrichosis (5 cases, 29.4%), chromoblastomycosis (4 cases, 23.5%), phaeohyphomycosis (2 cases, 11.8%). Sporothrix species was the most common etiological agent (29.4%), followed by Fonsecaea (23.5%), Scedosporium (17.6%), Exophiala (11.8%), Fusarium, Paecilomyces, and Cephalotheca (5.9%), respectively. Most patients responded well to therapy. CONCLUSION: Because of the increase in subcutaneous mycoses other than sporotrichosis, there is a the need for careful mycological examination in patients with subcutaneous mycoses.