Poster Presentation Australasian Society for Dermatology Research Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

  Purpureocillium lilacinum Mimicking Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Histologically in a Renal Transplant Patient (#77)

Danica Xie 1 , Russell J Thompson 1 , Sally de Zwaan 1
  1. John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

Purpureocillium lilacinum is a rare pathogenic fungus that is mainly reported in patients with solid organ or bone marrow transplants, and those on corticosteroid therapy. Our case reports a 57-year-old man who presented to our dermatology clinic with 6 months of tender hand and lower leg nodules initially biopsied as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) on a background of a renal transplant. Repeat biopsy and tissue culture confirmed Purpureocillium lilacinum skin infection which demonstrated rapid improvement on oral posaconazole. We highlight a key issue of questioning the diagnosis of SCC as the clinical picture was not suggestive, despite the individual lesions fitting the initial histopathological diagnosis. We suggest that a thorough history including hobbies, and full skin examination would aid in the diagnosis of this treatable fungal infection to avoid unnecessary surgery and morbidity.