Abstract

Cutaneous chromomycosis is a slow growing verrucous skin infection caused by five species, identified as Philadophara verruscosa, Fonsecaea dermatitidis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Fonsecaea compactum, Cladosporium, carionii. We report a case of chromomycosis of the skin causing by Cladosporium genus, in view of its rarity and unique light microscopic and ultrastructural features. This 65-year-old female had suffered from eczematous and lichenified skin lesion for the last two years since she burned her dorsum of the left hand by boiling oil. The lesion was slowly progressed, and ended up to the brownish hardening of the skin covered with crusts. Skin punch biopsy was done. Histologically, the sections revealed typical features of chronic granulomatous inflammation along with the heavy infiltration of the lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes. Pseudocarcinomatous downgrowth of the epidermis and microabscesses in the upper dermis were also found. Numerous thick walled fungal organisms were noted within the giant cells and freely in the dermis, which were positive ant PAS stain, and diastase resistant. Thick mucous capsule is not observed. The organisms showed very faint yellowish walls with a few buddings and a few short elongated hyphae were also noted. Ultrastructurally, the fungus wall was multilayered and inner organelles were sparse. There is no evidence of systemic involvement, especially brain.

• Keywords: Skin;Cladosporium;Chromomycosis