|
| Fig. 32.2 Chromomycosis. Diagnostic golden-brown, yeast-like fungi (Medlar bodies) within a multinucleated foreign body giant cell. (Courtesy of James E. Fitzpatrick, MD.) |
Chromomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous infection characterized by the appearance in tissue biopsies of an intermediate, vegetative, pigmented fungal form with a yeastlike appearance that is arrested between yeast and hyphal formation. These pigmented, thick-walled fungal elements are called Medlar bodies (Fig. 32-2). Medlar bodies, also called copper pennies or sclerotic bodies, are diagnostic of chromomycosis, differentiating it from phaeohyphomycosis. Tissue biopsies of phaeohyphomycosis are characterized by lightly pigmented filamentous hyphae.
