Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis Misdiagnosed as Lichen Planus / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is a rare syndrome characterized by persistent and refractory infection of the skin, nail and mucosal tissue by yeasts of the genus Candida. A 70-year-old woman presented with the following skin lesions ill-defined annular shaped whitish macules on the upper and lower lips accompanying dryness, pain and burning sensation, and yellowish discoloration with onycholysis of the right 4th finger nail. The upper lip lesion showed histopathologic feature of band-like infiltration of lymphocytes in the upper dermis, consistent with lichen planus. But, systemic glucocorticoid was not effective in treating erosive lip lesions. KOH examination and fungal culture of specimens from the upper lip showed hyphal elements and growth of Candida albicans, respectively. Antifungal agent was administered. After the oral medication, skin lesions were improved but there was repeated recurrence. We report a case of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis misdiagnosed as lichen planus.