- Endemic mycosis with worldwide distribution caused by the
dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. - The vast majority of
sporotrichosis infections are lymphocutaneous or fixed cutaneous
forms, although osteoarticular, pulmonary, meningeal, and
disseminated sporotrichosis may occur, especially in patients
with diabetes, alcoholism, AIDS, and haematological
malignancies, but also in normal hosts. - Lymphocutaneous
sporotrichosis is caused by traumatic inoculation of the fungus
into the skin and results in an initial nodular lesion that
usually ulcerates, which is followed by ascending nodular
lymphangitis. - The definitive test for diagnosis of
lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis is culture of the fungus from
skin lesions. - Because of their non-specific presentation and
relative rarity, a high index of clinical suspicion is required
for diagnosis of extracutaneous forms of sporotrichosis, which
is typically delayed. - Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis is not
life threatening and responds well to itraconazole treatmen