Chronic disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis: the first case reported in China / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

To report the first case of chronic disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis in China. A 49-year-old male patient presented with papules and nodules of the skin for 1 year, and papules and ulcers on the oral mucosa for 2 months. Skin examination showed the edema of the left foot, multiple crusting ulcers on the sole of the left foot, ulcers with a granular base in the interdigital regions between the third and fourth toes as well as fourth and fifth toes of the left foot, accompanied by punctate hemorrhage and exudation; there were multiple papules, nodules, and plaques on the dorsum and medial side of the left foot and the left knee, with ulcers and crusts in the center; 2 papules were observed on the left wrist, and 1 papule on the left upper lip with a crusted surface; red plaques with ulcers and punctate hemorrhage were observed on the gingival mucosa, buccal mucosa, labial mucosa, and palate, and the lesions mainly occurred on the left side. Ultrasonography of superficial lymph nodes showed bilateral cervical and supraclavicular lymph node enlargement, which was more obvious on the left side. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen showed diffuse miliary nodular shadows, and cordlike, cloudy flocculent and nodular high-density shadows in both lungs, as well as obvious thickening of the left adrenal gland in the abdomen. Yeast cells were observed by immunofluorescent staining of biopsy tissues from the oral mucosa and left lower limb. Histopathological examination of biopsy tissues from the oral mucosa and left lower limb showed granulomatous inflammation, and refractive double-membrane yeast cells could be observed inside or outside the multinucleated giant cells, without or with a single bud or multiple buds; periodic acid-Schiff staining and hexamine silver staining of the above biopsy tissues were positive. Fungal culture of the left lower limb lesion in Sabouraud dextrose agar medium at 25℃ and 37℃ both yielded fungal hyphae. Metagenomics sequencing of the oral mucosal tissue and alveolar lavage fluid indicated the infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The diagnosis of chronic disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis was confirmed. After 1-month oral treatment with itraconazole capsules at a dose of 400 mg/d, the lesions on the skin and oral mucosa markedly improved, and computed tomography imaging of the lung and left adrenal gland also showed obvious improvement. The dose of itraconazole was reduced to 200 mg/d after 3 months. The patient′s condition further improved during a 10-month follow-up.