Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei

Exophiala jeanselmei, a saprobe in the environment, is an opportunistic pathogen. We present a rare case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by E jeanselmei in a man aged 66 years with a 3-month history of a tender swelling on the dorsal area of the left middle finger. Purulent fluid was aspirated from the area, and the culture yielded black colonies composed of conidiophores, phialides, and yeast cells. After sequencing of the rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 gene, the pathogen was confirmed as E jeanselmei. The patient was cured by surgical excision without any antifungal agents.