Primary cutaneous aspergillosis due to Aspergillus flavus in a neutropenic patient

Abstract

Summary Cutaneous aspergillosis is a rare disease that generally affects immunosuppressed patients. We report a case of primary cutaneous aspergillosis developed at the site of cervical lymphadenectomy in a 32-year-old man with underlying anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma. The lymphadenectomy was performed to confirm relapse of the malignancy. Wound infection developed during the second week of post-chemotherapy neutropenia. Histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy specimen showed abundant hyphae, cultures yielded Aspergillus flavus and galactomannan antigenemia was positive. Treatment consisted of combination of voriconazole and surgical debridement. Patient died of multiorgan failure caused by bacterial sepsis without secondary dissemination of the Aspergillus infection. Conclusion Aspergillus infection should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of wound infections, especially in neutropenic patients.