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A novel type of metastatically spreading subcutaneous aspergillosis without epidermal lesions following allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 28, pages 899–901 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Systemic mycosis is among the most feared opportunistic infections in the immunocompromised host. Difficulty and delay in diagnosis and treatment often result in poor outcomes. In this communication a metastatically spreading form of subcutaneous aspergillosis developed in a patient with a history of allogeneic stem cell transplantation for relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma. Strikingly, necrotizing cutaneous papules or ulcerating lesions were absent. Diagnosis was accomplished after excision of a clinically non-suggestive subcutaneous nodule. Despite prompt initiation of antimycotic therapy the outcome was fatal; dosage of conventional and liposomal amphotericin B was limited due to treatment-related toxicities. This case report describes a novel form of aspergillosis and underlines the need for an aggressive diagnostic approach in severely immunocompromised patients. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 899–901.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to express our thanks to Miriam J Baron, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA for her thorough review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department I of Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Infectious Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    OA Cornely, H Pels, U Bethe, K Toepelt & D Soehngen

  2. Department of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    A Ritzkowsky

  3. Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany

    M Seibold

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  1. OA Cornely
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  2. H Pels
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  6. D Soehngen
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  7. A Ritzkowsky
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Cornely, O., Pels, H., Bethe, U. et al. A novel type of metastatically spreading subcutaneous aspergillosis without epidermal lesions following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 28, 899–901 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703250

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703250

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