Cromoblastomicosis simulando un carcinoma escamocelular

Introduction: Chromoblastomycosis (CMB) is a chronic granulomatous fungal disease caused by transcutaneous inoculation of fungi. Its polymorphic lesions can be confused with various dermatoses, both infectious and non-infectious. This case stands out for its diagnostic difficulty, since it simulates a malignant skin tumor, which provides insight into the complexity of clinical and histological diagnosis, as well as treatment. Case presentation: A 75-year-old patient presented an erythematous and scaly lesion on the back of the left hand, with a clinical and histopathological diagnosis of actinic keratosis. After ineffective treatments, a second biopsy was performed that confirmed deep chromoblastomycosis. Treatment with oral itraconazole and cryosurgery was started, observing significant improvement. Conclusions: Chromoblastomycosis is a complex disease to diagnose due to its variable clinical presentation. This case highlights the importance of performing extensive and deep biopsies for proper clinicopathologic correlation. The key learning is the need for a thorough and personalized evaluation for effective management of these dermatoses.