Subcutaneous phycomycosis involving the anterior abdominal wall in an immunocompetent boy successfully treated with potassium iodide

Abstract

Subcutaneous phycomycosis is a chronic deep fungal infection caused by Basidiobolus ranarum, which usually occurs in children, predominantly affecting males. Herein, we report subcutaneous phycomycosis in a 3-year-old boy who presented with a gradually progressive painless swelling over the anterior abdomen of 20-day duration. Lesional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of subcutaneous phycomycosis which revealed multiple well-defined granulomas composed of histiocytes, epithelioid cells, and multinucleate giant cells with broad nonseptate hyphae stained with Gomori methenamine silver stain. The child was managed with a saturated solution of potassium iodide which completely melted the swelling.

Keywords

• basidiobolus ranarum
• broad nonseptate hyphae
• phycomycosis
• potassium iodide