Phaeohyphomycosis in Korea.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a mycotic disease caused by dematiaceous fungi that produce brown yeast-like cells, pseudohyphae, and irregular true hyphae in tissues. Seven Korean cases of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis have been reported to date, four males and three females, ranging in age from 9-84 years (mean 50.4 years). Causative organisms of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis were 3 of Exophiala jeanselmei, 2 of E. dermatitidis, 1 of Drechslera dematioidea and 1 of Phoma sp. Four cases of abscess and 3 cases of verrucous plaque were present as skin lesions, and were all exposed areas of the body. Patients were treated with itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole or amphotericin B.