Mycobacterium Infection, Atypical - DermAtlas

Contributor

Greg Hosler, MD, PhD

Diagnosis

mycobacterium infection, atypical

Body Site

arm

Age

8 years

Pigmentation

light

Organization

discrete

Color

red

Morphology

plaqulous (plaque / nodule / tumor)

Pattern

solitary

Comments

This unfortunate child with leukemia had developed several opportunistic infections following a bone marrow transplant. Due to a previous diagnosis of angioinvasive fungal infection, this new lesion was presumed to be a recurrence, despite heavy antifungal therapy. Biopsy revealed numerous acid fast bacteria, consistent with an atypical mycobacterial infection. The bacillary organisms are easily seen with the Fite stain, but also are weakly positive using a Gram stain.

Description

A Fite stain highlights several beaded bacillary organisms in red, in the region of the granulomatous inflammation.

Image Added

4/14/2006 8:42:27

Translate

Other Resources

PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

Image Options

View Image in New Window