Rhinocladiella aquaspersa: a borderline between chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis?

The literature relates only rare the cases of chromoblastomycosis which the agent implicated is Rhinocladiella aquaspersa. The present study discusses a clinical presentation of a lesion in a farmer's left forearm, in which t he macroscopic characteristics suggested chromoblastomycosis. The analysis of the clinical material from biopsy, in two different situations, showed t he presence of a brown pigmented hyphae and yeast-like cells in either case . Furthermore, no sclerotic bodies typical of chromoblastomycosis were obse rved. The mycological culture showed the presence of R. aquaspersa. Therefo re, the current distinction between phaeohyphymycosis and chromoblastomycos is is questionable.