A case of cutaneous nodules in a sporotrichoid pattern

Abstract

A sporotrichoid pattern describes a clinical presentation in which inflammatory nodules spread along the path of lymphatic drainage, being reported in association with several infectious, neoplastic, and inflammatory skin conditions. Herein, we report a 65-year-old man presenting with a three-month history of erythematous nodules in a linear distribution along the left hand and forearm. He reported recent rose gardening and regular contact with an aquarium. The diagnosis was made through culture of skin biopsy tissue and isolation of Mycobacterium marinum. The patient was treated with a combination of clarithromycin and rifampicin and clinical resolution was evident within two months. We present a patient with a sporotrichoid cutaneous infection by Mycobacterium marinum, highlighting that even with the availability of novel microbiological detection techniques, tissue culture remains an essential tool for diagnostic confirmation.