Phaeohyphomycosis clinically mimicking Bursa cyst at Achilles tendon area

Abstract

Phaeohyphomycosis comprised a heterogeneous group of fungal infections caused by wide variety of dematiaceous fungi that develop as black moulds in culture and moniliform fungal elements in tissue. They are saprophytes of soil, wood and decaying vegetable matter. The clinical presentation of phaeohyphomycosis is classified as primary and secondary form. The primary form categorized as superficial infection which mimick tinea nigra and black piedra, cutaneous infection which mimick tinea infecion of the same location and subcutaneous infection which commonly present as slowly progressive nodule or plaque in the regions of the body that prone to trauma. The secondary form occurs when dematiaceous fungi metastasize to the skin from internal organs and manifested as non specific skin lesion such as papule, plaque or nodule. Because of the diversity of clinical presentation, Phaeohyphomycosis should be always the one in differential diagnosis of every patient presenting with subcutaneous cyst. We herein reported a case of Phaeohyphomycosis at Achilles tendon area which clinically mimicking bursa cyst.