Scanning electron microscopy of superficial white onychomycosis

Abstract

Superficial white onychomycosis is characterized by opaque, friable, whitish superficial spots on the nail plate. We examined an affected halux nail of a 20-year-old male patient with scanning electron microscopy. The mycological examination isolated Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Abundant hyphae with the formation of arthrospores were found on the nail's surface, forming small fungal colonies. These findings showed the great capacity for dissemination of this form of onychomycosis.

Acral manifestations of fungal infections

“…KOH and fungal culture have low sensitivity; periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining has high at 90-95%. 3,[41][42][43] Onychomycosis should be distinguished from some conditions such as nail psoriasis, subungual warts, pachyonychia congenita, trachyonychia, chronic paronychia, and traumatic, medication-induced, or postinfectious onycholysis and the diagnosis should be confirmed by histpathologic examination or fungal culture in suspected cases. 3 The characteristic histological features include subungual hyperkeratosis, neutrophilic infiltrate, parakeratosis, hemorrhage, and serum crusts.…”