title: Cancers mimicking fungal infections.
abstract: Primary and metastatic malignancies may occasionally mimic or coexist with cutaneous fungal infections. The authors report 3 cases of cancers that were initially presumed to be cutaneous fungal infections. Dermatologists should maintain a low threshold for skin biopsy in patients with persistent or refractory fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Barry Ladizinski, MD, is an MPH/MBA candidate at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Afsaneh Alavi, MD, is a Dermatology and Wound Care Consultant at the Women's College Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jay Jambrosic, MD, is a Dermatopathology Consultant at the Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, and Life Lab Dermatopathology, Toronto. Nisha Mistry, MD, is Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto. R. Gary Sibbald, MD, MEd, BSc, FRCPC(Med Derm), MACP, FAAD, MAPWCA, is Professor of Public Health and Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Director, International Interprofessional Wound Care Course & Masters of Science in Community Health (Prevention & Wound Care), Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto; Past President, World Union of Wound Healing Societies; Course Coordinator, International Interprofessional Wound Care Course at New York University Medical Center, and Clinical Editor, Advances in Skin & Wound Care, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr Ladizinski has disclosed that he has no financial relationships related to this article. Dr Alavi has disclosed that she was a consultant to Galderma, Valeant, and Abbott and was renumerated for travel expenses from Leo and Stiefel Laboratories. Dr Jambrosic has disclosed that he is employed by Ontario Health Insurance Canada, and he has provided expert testimony for the Canadian Medical Protective Association. Dr Mistry has disclosed that she is a consultant to Abbott and Janssen; was a member of the speakers' bureau for Galderma, Leo, and Triton; and was a member of the speakers' bureau for Valeant and Valeo. Dr Sibbald has disclosed that he is a board member of 3M, BSN, Coloplast, Covidien, Gaymar, KCI, Systagenix, Mölnlycke, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Hollister Limited, and Healthpoint; was a member of the speakers' bureau for 3M, BSN, Coloplast, Gaymar, KCI, Systagenix, Mölnlycke, Hollister Limited, Valeant, and Stiefel Lab
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ladizinski
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jambrosic
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: R Gary
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sibbald
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy