CHROMOBLASTOMYCOSIS (MYCETOMA FORM) TREATED BY SURGICAL EXCISION

Abstract

CHROMOBLASTOMYCOSIS is a chronic infectious disease of the skin characterized by nodular, verrucous, or cauliflower-like lesions. Extension from the skin to the subcutaneous tissues occurs at times, and, although the infection usually is confined to the lower extremities, it may involve the hands and arms. The disease is caused by what appears to be one fungus or several closely related fungi. It is accepted generally that chromoblastomycosis was first recognized by Pedroso,¹of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1911, but the first comprehensive descriptions of the disease were published by Lane²and Medlar³in 1915. Many different names have been suggested for the lesion, but the one in popular use today is chromoblastomycosis, originated by Terra and associates in 1922.⁴This term would seem to indicate an association of pigment formation and blastomycosis and would thus be misleading, for, although pigmentation is produced, chromoblastomycosis differs from