A farmer develops slowly progressive, verrucous, cauliflower-like lesions on the dorsum of the foot over five years. Scraping mounted in potassium hydroxide shows round, thick-walled, brown-pigmented cells that divide by internal septation in multiple planes. These structures are called:
- A Arthroconidia
- B Sclerotic granules
- C Medlar (muriform) bodies ✓
- D Chlamydospores
Correct answer: C. Medlar (muriform) bodies
Explanation
Muriform bodies, also called Medlar bodies or copper-penny cells, are the diagnostic tissue form of chromoblastomycosis. They are pigmented, thick-walled cells that divide by transverse and longitudinal septa, and they represent the vegetative form rather than true spores. Sclerotic granules belong to botryomycosis, a bacterial condition, while arthroconidia and chlamydospores are mould structures seen in culture, not in these lesions.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.