Oral paracoccidioidomycosis: a retrospective study of 62 Brazilian patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the profile of patients with oral paracoccidioidomycosis referred to two Dental Schools in Belo Horizonte (MG, Brazil) between 1955 and 1998. Despite the importance of the oral manifestations of this disease, few papers in the English literature have provided epidemiological data. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 62 patients presenting oral paracoccidioidomycosis were reviewed in detail. Patient age, gender, race, occupation, site of lesion and type of clinical manifestation of the disease were tabulated. RESULTS: There was a predominance of male patients (97%), with a male:female ratio of 30:1. The mean age was 40 years. Most of the patients were farm workers (53%). Some patients presented multiple oral lesions (19 cases, 30%). The fungal lesions were found principally in the alveolar process and gingiva, but were also seen on the palate, lip and buccal mucosa. All patients had chronic proliferative mulberry-like ulcerated oral lesions and the diagnosis was confirmed histologically. The clinical records did not contain notes about pulmonary involvement by the lesions. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of a specific population with the diagnosis of oral paracoccidioidomycosis. The major goal is to establish a scientific basis for initiating educational programs for prevention and early diagnosis of oral paracoccidioidomycosis.