Uncommon signs of mycetoma

Abstract

Mycetoma is a chronic inflammatory process during which exogenous fungal or actinomycosic agents produce grains. The infection involves the skin, the subcutaneous tissues, the muscles and the bones. We report the case of a 39-year old woman, a teacher, living in Brazzaville, who had regularly resided in the village. She presented with a painless suppurative mass in the left thigh that had been treated with bandages over the past 4 years. The patient didn't have fever. Her general condition was good. Physical examination showed poly-lobed, firm tumor mass in the posterior surface of the left thigh, measuring 11cm in diameter on the major axis, with ulcerations discharging purulent serosity. There was no satellite adenopathy. The remainder of the physical examination was normal. Bacteriological analysis showed sterile serosity. Skin biopsy revealed alteration of the connective tissue and the presence of small foci of grains, typical of Actinomadura pelletieri. CRP level was 48mg/L; blood count, blood glucose, blood lipids and LDH were normal. Standard radiography of the affected thigh was normal. The diagnosis of actinomycosic mycetoma was retained. Patient's outcome, after a 12-month treatment with cotrimoxazole, was marked by the epidermization of the ulcers and the persistence of the tumor mass, justifying secondary surgical resection.