Single Oral Paracoccidioidomycosis Mimicking Other Lesions: Report of Eight Cases

• Published in: Mycopathologia (1975) Vol. 173; no. 1; pp. 47 - 52
• Main Authors: de Oliveira Gondak, Rogério, Mariano, Fernanda Viviane, dos Santos Silva, Alan Roger, Vargas, Pablo Agustin, Lopes, Márcio Ajudarte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biopsy; Buccal mucosa; Cancer; Cleft lip/palate; Connective tissue; Dental schools; Diagnosis, Differential; Differential diagnosis; Eukaryotic Microbiology; Female; Fungal infections; Fungi; Gingiva; Health aspects; Hemorrhage; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Hyperplasia; Infection; Inhalation; Latin America; Life Sciences; Lung; Male; Medical Microbiology; Men; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Mimicry; Mouth; Mouth Diseases - microbiology; Mouth Diseases - pathology; Mycoses; Oral cavity; Palate; Paracoccidioides - isolation & purification; Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; Paracoccidioidomycosis - diagnosis; Paracoccidioidomycosis - pathology; Plant Sciences; South American blastomycosis; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tongue; Ulcers; Womens health; Latin America; Brazil; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Differential diagnosis
• ISSN: 0301-486X; 1573-0832
• DOI: 10.1007/s11046-011-9461-3

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
. It is an endemic disease, representing a serious health problem in Latin American countries. This infection primarily affects the lungs and is acquired by inhalation of the fungus. It can spread to other organs and tissues, mainly the oral cavity affecting more adult men from 30 to 50 years of age. On clinical presentation, several signs associated with impaired general and nutritional conditions can be noted. Oral manifestation is more common in the soft palate, gingiva, lower lip, buccal mucosa, and tongue. The classical clinical presentation is a superficial ulcer with granular appearance and hemorrhagic points. Usually, the oral lesion is extensive and generalized. Although uncommon, when the oral manifestation is single, others lesions, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, must be included in the differential diagnosis. In this article, the authors discuss the unusual presentation of eight cases of single oral paracoccidioidomycosis and its diagnostic importance.