Ann Dermatol.  1996 Jul;8(3):206-210. 10.5021/ad.1996.8.3.206.

A Case of Cutaneous Protothecosis

• Yang JK
• Jang IG
• Park YM
• Kim TY
• Kim HO
• Kim CW

• KMID: 2360491
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.1996.8.3.206

Abstract

Protothecosis is a rare cutaneous soft tissue infection caused by the genus prototheca, most commonly Prototheca wickerhatmii. An 80-year-old woman has had a painful or tender, non-healing, eczematous plaque on the extensor surface of the left forearm for 4 years. A biopsy specimen revealed the characteristic thick-walled morulalike sporangia in the dermis. P. wickerha mili was isolated in the culture and the biochemical studies. Electron microscopic examination showed the thick-walled spores containing dark dense bodies and amyloplasts. Oral itraconazole therapy for 4 weeks resulted-in a marked improvement of the skin lesion.

Keyword

Cutaneous protothecosis; Prototheca wickerhamii

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Biopsy
Dermis
Female
Forearm
Humans
Itraconazole
Plastids
Prototheca
Skin
Soft Tissue Infections
Sporangia
Spores
Itraconazole