Fungal Infection, Deep, Abscess, Zygomycosis - DermAtlas

Contributor

Susan M Rabizadeh, MD

Diagnosis

fungal infection, deep abscess zygomycosis

Body Site

forearm

Age

47 years

Pigmentation

light

Organization

discrete

Color

black purple

Morphology

crust/eschar

Pattern

localized solitary

Comments

This 47-year-old man developed a necrotic ulcer with eschar and purpuric borders following immunosuppression for an orthotopic liver transplant for liver failure from Hepatitis C Virus infection. The lesion was biopsied and sent for both histology and cultures. The clinical differential diagnosis included deep fungal infection and ecthyma gangrenosum. The histopathology showed scattered filamentous fungi within the areas of necrosis. The apparent aseptate and ribbon-like nature of the fungus is highly suggestive of zygomycosis (mucor, rhizopus, etc), however, degenerated Aspergillus species can look like this, and thus cultures are necessary for confirmation.

Description

4 X 8 cm well demarcated necrotic black eschar

Image Added

2/27/2006 22:56:07

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Other Resources

PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

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