Abstract:

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics, mycology and therapeutics of 5 cases of cutaneous zygomycosis collected in recent 3 years. Methods A retrospective study was performed using clinical data on 5 cases of cutaneous zygomycosis collected in recent 3 years. Also, previous reports of this entity were reviewed. Results There were 1 male and 4 females among the 5 patients with cutaneous zygo- mycosis confirmed by mycology and/or pathology. The onset of age varied from 5 to 49 years, and course of disease from 7 months to 16 years. Of the 5 patients, 1 presented with superficial cutaneous zygomycosis, and the other 4 with gangrenous cutaneous zygomycosis; 3 had a history of trauma or surgery, 2 had no obvious inducements. Eruptions were located in the face of 2 patients and in the extremities of 3 patients. The isolate was identified as Rhizomucor variabilis in 3 cases, and species remained unclear in 2 cases. Four patients were treated by amphotericin B, and 1 by oral fluconazole as well as oral and injected itraconazole. Finally, 2 patients were healed, 1 was improved, 1 experienced no obvious improvement, and 1 died. Conclusions Cutaneous zygomycosis is a rare severe devastating deep fungal infection. The first choice of drug is amphoteracin B for it. To improve the understanding of this disease may benefit the early diagnosis and therapy of it.