Ablative treatment of severe chromoblastomycosis in the upper limb. Case report

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58814/01208845.59

Keywords:

Chromoblastomycosis, Dermatomycoses and Amputation Surgical, Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic, granulomatous, subcutaneous infection caused by fungi that occurs in endemic and subtropical areas with an incidence of 1 case per 6 800 inhabitants. The course of its clinical manifestations is slow; initially the lesions are nodular but may progress to large tumors. Treatment of initial lesions usually includes surgical resection and concomitant administration of oral antifungal agents.

Case presentation: A 59-year-old farmer with no relevant personal history visited the emergency department of a quaternary care hospital in Medellín (Colombia) due to a tumor lesion in the upper limb that appeared 20 years earlier (involvement from the hand to the proximal third of the arm), contracture of the fingers, wrist and elbow, involuntary weight loss, and night sweats. Skin biopsies, a fungal culture test, a computed tomography, and a magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Based on the findings of these tests, ablative surgical management (proximal transhumeral amputation) was performed and systemic antifungal therapy was initiated, resulting in a favorable clinical course.

Conclusion: This is the case of a male farmer with chromoblastomycosis and severe functional limitation of the right upper limb due to the severity of the infection and the absence of early medical treatment, in which the combination of ablative (amputation of the limb from the proximal third of the humerus) and pharmacological (systemic antifungals) treatment allowed for the complete resolution of the infection.

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References

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Published

2023-12-01

How to Cite

1.
Gómez-Contreras M Ángel, Peña-Mira MN, López-Valencia JE, Quintero-Tordecilla MC, Duque-Osorio DC, Argota-Robles AF. Ablative treatment of severe chromoblastomycosis in the upper limb. Case report. Rev. colomb. ortop traumatol. [Internet]. 2023 Dec. 1 [cited 2024 May 21];37(4):e59. Available from: https://revistasccot.org/index.php/rccot/article/view/59

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