Oral manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis – general considerations and case report

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic disorder that primarily involves the lungs and then disseminates to other organs and systems. The aim of this work was to present a literature review about this disease, focusing clinical aspects, epidemiology, methods of diagnosis and treatment, and relate a case diagnosed after clinical evaluation, exfoliative cytology and incisional biopsy. Secondary lesions appear frequently in the mucous membranes, lymph nodes and skin. Both clinical presentation of the mycosis and the course of the disease vary from patient to patient. Subclinical infections have been documented in healthy residents of areas where the disease is endemic. These areas are confined solely to certain countries in Latin America. Paracoccidioidomycosis is frequently diagnosed in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina; in Brazil, it constitutes an important public health problem. The etiologic agent is a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. It is important to pay attention to chronic ulcerated lesions of oral mucosa, considering the possible diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis. Key words: Paracoccidioidomycosis. Exfoliative cythology. Antifungal agents. Oral manifestations.