A 30-year-old carpenter presents with a verrucous plaque on the hand with satellite papules. KOH preparation of skin scrapings shows thick-walled, brown, spherical cells divided by both transverse and septate walls described as 'copper pennies' or 'sclerotic bodies'. Which infection is most likely?

• A Sporotrichosis
• B Phaeohyphomycosis
• C Mycetoma
• D Chromoblastomycosis ✓

Explanation

Chromoblastomycosis is caused by dematiaceous fungi (Fonsecaea, Cladophialophora, Phialophora) and characterized by the presence of sclerotic bodies (muriform cells, copper pennies) in tissue. These are thick-walled, brown, round cells divided by horizontal and vertical septa. Sporotrichosis shows cigar-shaped yeast, mycetoma shows granules, and phaeohyphomycosis shows pigmented hyphae without sclerotic bodies.

Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.