Also known as: mycormycosis, phycomycosis

Clinical Features:

• Infection caused by ubiquitous saprophytic fungi of several genera, including Mucor, Absidia, Rhizopus, Cunninghamella and Circinella
• Mainly affects immunocompromised hosts, in whom infection can be fatal
• Five clinical forms: rhinocerebral, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cutaneous and disseminated
• There are two described variants of cutaneous zygomycosis:
  • Subacute: Affects healthy hosts exposed to contaminated adhesive tape.  Vesicles and pustules progressing to eschars.
  • Rapidly progressive: Affects immunocompromised hosts.  Necrotic black crust surrounded by cellulitis; may progress to disseminated disease.

Histologic Features:

• Extensive necrosis
• Vascular damage with fungal hyphae invading vessels (angioinvasion)
• The hyphae are visible on both H&E and special fungal stains.  They are broad, normally nonseptate (although an occasional septum may sometimes be seen) and empty appearing ("ribbon like") with nonparallel walls and right-angle branching.

External Links:

• Dermnet NZ
• Wikipedia

Cases associated with this book:

Zygomycosis
Author: Artur Zembowicz M.D. Ph.D.

Conference: DermatopathologyConsultations.com Teaching Collection