Premium
Lobomycosis
Author(s) -
Bhawan Jag,
Bain Robert Walker,
Purtilo David T.,
Gomez Neri,
Dewan Charles,
Whelan C. F.,
Dolorum M.,
Edelstein Lee
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1976.tb00841.x
Subject(s) - pathology , giant cell , cytoplasm , immunofluorescence , biology , antibody , glycoprotein , macrophage , fungus , biopsy , lesion , capsule , medicine , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , biochemistry , botany
A 73‐year‐old woman from Guyana had nodular keloidal lesions on her face which had persisted for 56 years. A biopsy of the lesion revealed lobomycosis, a rare fungal infection. Microscopically, numerous fungi were seen in giant cells and macrophages. The macrophages had abundant pink reticulated cytoplasm. These macrophages in lobomycosis, considered by some in the past to be granular myoblastoma cells, were rich in glycoproteins and appeared to be “Gaucher‐like cells” in electromicrographs. Further, a transition of macrophages containing organisms to Gaucher‐like cells was noted. Antibodies to the fungus were demonstrated in the patient's serum by counter immunoelectrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescence studies. We postulate that the Gaucher‐like cells formed because of the inability of host macrophages to digest glycoproteins in the capsule of this unusual fungus.