Phialophora repens, an emerging agent of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in humans

A 63-year-old Japanese man had phaeohyphomycosis that occurred as a solitary subcutaneous nodule on the dorsal aspect of his left hand. In the nodule there were foci of mixed granulomatous and suppurative infiltrations circumscribed by thick fibrous tissue reaction. The foci contained short septate hyphae and occasionally small rounded aggregates of irregularly branched septate hyphae, both of which were nonpigmented or rarely weakly pale brown. Fungal culture from the nodule was positive for a dematiaceous mold. The mycologic features of the mold were typical of Phialophora repens. The infection was successfully treated by excision of the nodule. This is the second reported case of infection due to P. repens.