CUTANEOUS INFECTION CAUSED BY CURVULARIA-PALLESCENS - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE SPECTRUM OF DISEASE

A 75-year-old woman being treated with prednisone and methotrexate had a 5.5 x 2.2 cm ulcer on the leg. A biopsy specimen revealed suppurati ve, granulomatous dermal inflammation with necrotic areas of septate, branching hyphae containing brown pigment. Cultures grew Curvularia pa llescens. Oral ketoconazole therapy was started and the lesion was exc ised. The site healed after multiple excisions and grafts, and ketocon azole therapy was stopped after 7 months. This is the first reported c ase of invasive cutaneous infection by C. pallescens.