Korean J Dermatol.  2001 Apr;39(4):499-503.

Three Cases of Systemic Candidiasis with Skin Manifestations in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

• Lee SY
• Chang SE
• Choi JH
• Sung KJ
• Moon KC
• Koh JK

Abstract

Systemic or disseminated candidiasis is a not uncommon serious complication among patients with impaired host-defense mechanisms, particularly among those with hematologic malignancies. Although widespread organ involvement is characteristic of disseminated candidiasis, there is only a few reports of skin manifestation in Korea. The diagnosis is often difficult to establish, since Candida organisms can be cultured from blood specimens in only 25% of the patients. Unless treated, the disease is rapidly fatal. If there is any evidence of respiratory distress or signs of sepsis in hematologic malignancy patients the possibility of systemic candidiasis and the need for parenteral antifungal therapy must be considered by early pathologic diagnosis of heralding skin lesions. We describe three hematologic malignancy patients with systemic candidiasis with disseminated maculopapules and vesicular eruption and respiratory distress. Skin biopsies showed multiple spores and pseudohyphae in the dermis and subcutis. These patients did not respond to intravenous antifungal agents and had fatal course.

Keyword

Systemic candidiasis; Skin; Hematologic malignancies

MeSH Terms

Antifungal Agents
Biopsy
Candida
Candidiasis*
Dermis
Diagnosis
Hematologic Neoplasms*
Humans
Korea
Sepsis
Skin Manifestations*
Skin*
Spores
Antifungal Agents