Oral exfoliative cytology for the diagnosis of paracoccidoidomycosis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Paracoccidioidomycosis is not the most common fungal disease in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), except for endemic regions in Latin America countries. CASE: A 33-year-old man with HIV presented with mulberry-like lesions on the palate. The diagnosis was made by exfoliative cytology and Papanicolaou staining. Microscopic analysis revealed fungal structures with birefringent walls and exosporulation conferring an airplane radial motor appearance, or even bowel-like or goblet-like forms compatible with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
CONCLUSION: This process spares the immunosuppressed patient from undergoing invasive biopsy procedures.