Chromoblastomycosis: clinical experience and review of literature

BackgroundChromoblastomycosis is a tropical chronic infectious dermatosis characterized by the moriform bodies. To review all cases of chromoblastomycosis attended in the reference service of dermatology. MethodsSeries of cases of chromoblastomycosis attended in a dermatology reference service. Through an integrated system search of assistance, based on CID-10 B43, we reviewed epidemiological and comorbidities data, clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes of each clinical case. ResultsFrom 2011 to 2017, we had five new cases of chromoblastomycosis. The average age was 65.6years. All of them were men. One patient was HIV-positive, and another patient was immunosuppressed by the use of mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone due to renal transplant. Two patients had no history of evident trauma. The time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis ranged from 7 to 600months. Fonsecaea pedrosoi was the isolated fungi. All cases were formally confirmed. Itraconazole with or without other therapies was effective in all cases. ConclusionsWe report five never reported cases of chromoblastomycosis, and we review the clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment of chromoblastomycosis, an infrequent and neglected subcutaneous mycosis.