Chancroid: contemporary appraisal

Appearances in dermatopathology: The diagnostic and the deceptive

“…[67] A similar trilayered appearance can be seen in the histology of soft chancre (chancroid) caused by infiltrate, (ii) the mid-zone containing new blood vessels and regenerating granulation tissue on one hand and degenerative changes on the other and Hemophilus ducreyi: (i) superficial zone consisting of necrotic tissues and an acute inflammatory (iii) the deeper zone shows a chronic inflammatory infiltrate of plasma cells and lymphocytes. [68] WINDBLOWN APPEARANCE A descriptive term for the enlarged, crowded, haphazardly arranged neoplastic cells that show loss of polarity, enlarged and hyperchromatic nuclei and atypical mitoses in the epithelium of Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis of the genitalia. This overall appearance in the epithelium of Bowen's disease is referred to as "windblown appearance" [69,70] [ Figure 28].…”

Chancroid in an HIV-Negative Woman in the Midwestern United States

“…There have also been reports of outbreaks of chancroid found within the United States (US) in sex workers and others who have sex for money or drugs. It also tends to have male predominance (3). There were 23 cases of chancroid reported to the US Centers for Disease Control in 2007 (4).…”

“…There were 23 cases of chancroid reported to the US Centers for Disease Control in 2007 (4). Diagnosis of chancroid is based on physical examination, Gram's stain showing Gram-negative coccobacillus, culture, which is approximately 75% sensitive, and histopathology (2,3). Treatment usually consists of azithromycin orally or ceftriaxone intramuscularly (1).…”

“…There have been multiple reports of chancroid in Africa and the tropics, and in urban environments associated with drug use, specifically cocaine, and the sex trade (3,5,6). There have been reports of chancroid outbreaks in major US cities, however, these seemed to taper in the early 1990s (4,6 -8).…”

“…This is performed on tissue taken from the margin of the ulcer, and shows an inflammatory infiltrate, proliferation of new blood vessels, and patchy proliferative and degenerative changes superficially and chronic inflammation in the deeper zone. Organisms can also be demonstrated in the tissue itself with Gram's stain and other specific types of stain (3).…”