title: Fungal melanonychia: ungual phaeohyphomycosis caused by Wangiella dermatitidis.
abstract: A 51-year-old female Japanese patient developed black pigmentation affecting both big toe-nails. Direct potassium hydroxide examination of the nail tissue demonstrated clusters of spherical dematiaceous cells, toruloid hyphae, and septate hyphae. Wangiella dermatitidis was repeatedly isolated from the affected toe-nail lesions. This case represents the first documented case of ungual phaeohyphomycosis, 'fungal melanonychia,' caused by the dematiaceous fungus W. dermatitidis. The patient was successfully treated with a topical solution of bifonazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Padhye
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Standard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ajello
mesh_terms: D005093:Exophiala / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000382:microbiology*