Chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis: new concepts, diagnosis, and mycology

Abstract

The nomenclature for the mycoses caused by dematiaceous fungi should represent the combined clinical, pathologic, and mycologic relationships exhibited in the diseases. Chromoblastomycosis encompasses chronic, localized infections of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues that contain sclerotic bodies and histologically show hyperkeratotic pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with keratolytic microabscess formation in the epidermis. In contrast, phaeohyphomycosis is a collective term for a heterogeneous group of mycotic infections that contain dematiaceous yeastlike cells, pseudohyphae-like elements, hyphae, or any combination of these forms in tissue. The terms superficial, cutaneous and corneal, subcutaneous, and systemic phaeohyphomycosis are proposed for the major categories of phaeohyphomycosis. The term chromomycosis is rejected for mycoses caused by the dematiaceous fungi.