PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS MANIFESTING AS ORAL LESIONS - CLINICAL, CYTOLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

Paracoccidioidomycosis (South American blastomycosis) is a systemic my cosis which can be associated with oral lesions. This study on a group of 14 patients showed oral lesions mainly on the gingival or alveolar mucosa, with pulmonary involvement detectable on chest radiography in most. Microscopic detection of the fungus on a direct smear showed po sitive results in all 14 patients. Serological investigations includin g immunodiffusion, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and immunoblot were al so positive in 100% of cases. The results suggest that direct smear to gether with serology may obviate the need for lesional biopsy for the diagnosis of oral paracoccidioidomycosis.