C Zaitz, E M Heins-Vaccari, R S de Freitas, G L Arriagada, L Ruiz, S A Totoli, A C Marques, G G Rezze, H Müller, N S Valente, C da S Lacaz

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis observed in a male patient presenting pulmonary sarcoidosis and submitted to corticosteroid treatment. He presented nodular erythematous-violaceous skin lesions in the dorsum of the right hand. Histopathological examination of the biopsied lesion revealed dematiaceous hyphae and yeast-like cells, with a granulomatous tissual reaction. The isolated fungus was identified as Phoma cava. A review of the literature on fungal infection caused by different Phoma species, is presented. The patient healed after therapy with amphotericin B. followed by itraconazole.