Entomophthoromycosis Research Articles

Subcutaneous entomophthoromycosis mimicking soft-tissue sarcoma in children

AimSubcutaneous entomophthoromycosis (EM) is an uncommon fungal infection of childhood. This article is intended to draw the attention of pediatric surgeons to the fact that EM can mimic soft-tissue tumor. MethodsIt is a retrospective review of 16 children treated for subcutaneous EM between 2000 and 2013. ResultsThe median age of patients was 3.5years. The typical lesion was a discoid subcutaneous mass that can be easily lifted from deeper tissues (the doughnut lifting sign). Lesions were mostly distributed in the lower half of body. All the patients were immunocompetent. Correct clinical diagnosis was made only in 4 cases while others were mistaken for a tumor. All the 8 children who underwent wide excision of the pseudotumor had local recurrence. Supersaturated solution of potassium iodide was curative in 11 cases while addition of itraconazole was needed in one case. One child died of muti-drug resistant infection. The mean treatment duration was 4.7months (range 2–8 months). ConclusionSubcutaneous EM can mimic soft-tissue tumor. High index of suspicion is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. A newly described “doughnut-lifting sign’ may be helpful in clinical diagnosis. Emergence of multi-drug resistant infection is a source of concern.

Entomophthoromycosis caused by Basidiobolus ranarum in tropical northern Australia

Claire L. Gordon, Sarah Whiting, Greg Haran, Ann Ward, Mark Coleman, Robert Baird, Cameron J. Jeremiah, Marina Mileva, Joshua S. Davis, Lachlan J. Warren, David H. Ellis, Bart J. Currie

Entomophthoromycosis basidiobolae-Successfully Treated with KI

Summary: Entomophthoromycosis basidiobolae in a 2½ year old female child is described with clinical, mycological and histopathological findings. Oral potassium iodide resolved the condition successfully. Zusammenfassung: Entomophthoromycosis basidiobolae in einem zweieinhalbjahrigen Kind (Madchen) wird mit Angaben von klinischen, mykologischen und histopathologischen Befunden beschrieben. Orale Kaliumjodid-Gaben haben den Krankheits-zustand mit Erfolg behoben.