Table 1. Characteristics of individuals with radiation port dermatophytosis*

 

Patient 1

Patient 2

Patient 3

Patient 4

Demographics

A/S/R

32/ M/W

33/M/SA

50/M/B

68/M/W

Cancer

 

 

 

 

Malignancy

NFS

UC

SCC

Adeno

Location

R axillae

Nasopharynx

Larynx

Prostate

XRT features

Type

SvGR+

SvGR+

SvGR+

PBǂ

Dose

28 Gy

19.8 Gy

9 Gy§

70.9 Gyǁ

Onset

3

2

1

<1

Tinea Corporis

Location

Neck and shoulder

Face and neck

Neck

L thigh

Morphology

Multiple erythematous patches with scaling and pustules at their border

Multiple hypopigmented plaques with a peripheral collarette of scale

Verrucous, crusted plaques of coalescent erythematous papules and plaques

Raised plaque with extensive erythema and scaling

Diagnosis

KOH prep**

+

+

+

-

Culture

Tr++

NP

MC

NP

Biopsy

NP

NP

NP

+ǂǂ

Treatment

Topical agent

AS

AC

AC

AC/CC

Duration

2

2-4§§

2

4

Citation

Reference

1,2 (C1)

3

2 (C2)

CR

 

*Abbreviations alphabetical: A, age (years); Adeno, adenocarcinoma; AC, antifungal cream; AS, antifungal solution; B, black; CC, corticosteroid; CGE, cobalt gray equivalent; CR, current report; Gy, gray; KOH, 10% potassium hydroxide; L, left; M, man; MC, microsporum canis; NFS, neurofibrosarcoma; NP, not performed; prep, preparation; R, race; R, right; S, sex; SA, Saudi Arabian; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; SvGR, supervoltage gamma rays; Tr, trichophyton rubrum; UC, undifferentiated carcinoma; W, white; XRT-radiation therapy; +, positive; -, negative

+Total radiation dose of supervoltage gamma rays (approximately 1.3 MeV, originating from radioisotope cobalt 60)

ǂTotal radiation dose of proton beam ( 2225 MeV of protons)

§Estimated value based on the information in reference 2

ǁThe conversion 1 cobalt gray equivalent = 1.1gray was used to calculate 78 CGE = 70.9 Gy

Number of weeks after initiation of radiation therapy

**The presence or absence of branching hyphae

++The fungal culture was discarded prior to definitively identifying the culture.  However, the presentation of a white, fluffy colony with a red back is highly suggestive of Trichophyton rubrum

ǂǂPeriodic acid-Schiff stain demonstrates hyphae in the stratum corneum

§§After completion of radiation therapy most of the hypopigmented plaques had undergone desquamation but treatment with the antifungal cream completely resolved the tinea corporis.