Co-existent cutaneous cryptococcosis of the forearm and cutaneous alternariosis of the leg in patient with metastatic thymoma.

BACKGROUND

Cryptococcosis and alternariosis are rare opportunistic infections often observed in immunocompromised patients. Because Cryptococcus and Alternaria are ubiquitous fungi found in soil, the presence of fungi in the dermis has to be observed on histological examination to confirm a real cutaneous, invasive, infection.

PATIENT: We report the first case of concomitant cutaneous cryptococcosis and cutaneous alternariosis, in an immunocompromised patient treated for a metastatic thymoma.

CONCLUSION

This observation underlines the fact that the possible co-existence of several rare infections in immunocompromised patients should take into consideration pathogen identification in order to adapt the therapy to individual patient requirements.