chromoblastomycosis

A localized chronic mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues characterized by skin lesions so rough and irregular as to present a cauliflowerlike appearance; caused by dematiaceous fungi such as Phialophora verrucosa, Exophiala (wangiella) dermatitidis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, F. compacta, and Cladosporium carrionii; fungal cells resembling copper pennies form rounded sclerotic bodies in tissue, with epidermal hyperplasia and intraepidermal microabscesses. SYN: chromomycosis. [chromo- + G. blastos, germ, + myke, fungus, + -osis, condition]

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chro·mo·blas·to·my·co·sis .krō-mə-.blas-tə-.mī-'kō-səs n, pl -co·ses -.sēz a skin disease that is caused by any of several pigmented fungi esp. of the genera Phialophora, Cladosporium, and Fonsecaea and is marked by the formation of warty colored nodules usu. on the legs called also chromomycosis

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n.

a chronic fungal infection of the skin usually occurring at the site of an injury; for example, a wound from a wood splinter. It produces pigmented wartlike lumps on exposed areas that sometimes ulcerate. In the immunocompromised it may spread rapidly and even prove fatal.

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chro·mo·blas·to·my·co·sis (kro″mo-blas″to-mi-koґsis) [chromo- + blasto- + mycosis] a chronic fungal infection of the skin, usually beginning at the site of a puncture wound or other trauma and affecting one lower limb or foot (mossy foot) but sometimes involving other areas of the body, producing wartlike nodules or papillomas that may or may not ulcerate; microscopically, the lesions are characterized by round, brown bodies (sclerotic bodies) that reproduce by equatorial splitting and not by budding. It is usually caused by dematiaceous fungi such as Phialophora verrucosa, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, F. compactum, or Cladosporium carrionii. Called also chromomycosis and verrucose or verrucous dermatitis.

Chromoblastomycosis.