Lobomycosis (keloidal blastomycosis): case reports and overview

Cutis. 1990 Sep;46(3):227-34.

Abstract

Lobomycosis is a deep fungal disease of the skin without involvement of internal organs or mucous membranes. The disease is characterized by skin nodules and plaques resembling keloid involving the earlobes, distal parts of the upper and lower extremities, and buttocks. In severe cases, large skin areas can be covered by disseminated or grouped and confluent nodules. Most cases are reported from South and Central America. The fungus Paracoccidioides (Glenosporella) loboi is abundant in lesions but is extremely difficult to culture. Lobomycosis is resistant to chemotherapy, but in some cases it can successfully be treated by excision. Although the diagnosis is easily established by its typical clinical, histologic, and microbiological features, it is often misdiagnosed by physicians not familiar with the disease. We describe here five patients and present an overview of this rare disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dermatomycoses* / drug therapy
  • Dermatomycoses* / pathology
  • Dermatomycoses* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis* / drug therapy
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis* / pathology
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis* / surgery
  • Skin / pathology