Lymphocutaneous nocardiosis caused by Nocardia asteroides. Case report and literature review

• A 22-year-old man developed erythematous nodules and an ulcer mimicking sporotrichosis on his right hand and forearm, which was subsequently diagnosed as lymphocutaneous nocardiosis caused byNocardia asteroides. To our knowledge, 21 cases of lymphocutaneous nocardiosis have been reported, with the majority of those cases, except for a few that remain uncertain, being due toNocardia brasiliensis. The case reported herein, the first known definitive case caused byN asteroides(to our knowledge), showed a more chronic course and less inflammatory manifestation compared with that caused byN brasiliensis. This is probably becauseN brasiliensishas a stronger virulence thanN asteroides. (Arch Dermatol1986;122:1183-1185)