Cryotherapy in chromoblastomycosis

Chromoblastomycosis (chromomycosis) is a subcutaneous fungal infection due to a soil fungus. Many different modalities have been tried for this condition, but complete eradication of the fungus from the body is difficult. Cryotherapy has been used for the treatment of many benign dermatoses, but there are only a few case reports of cryotherapy for chromoblastomycosis. We report the first Sri Lankan experience of cryotherapy for chromoblastomycosis.

Seven patients with chromoblastomycosis were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy (General Hospitals, Colombo and Kandy). Cryotherapy was effective, particularly for smaller lesions of chromoblastomycosis. Even for larger lesions it helped to contain the disease. Therefore, we recommend cryotherapy for small lesions of chromoblastomycosis as first line of therapy.