Recidivant odynophagia secondary to persistent esophageal candidiasis in an immunocompetent patient: the importance of brush cytology.

We present the case of a 53-year-old smoker woman without any relevant medical history who was attended as an outpatient due to several-month persistent odynophagia. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, showing white cotton-like plaques throughout the esophagus, suggestive of candidiasis. An esophageal brushing plus biopsy sampling were done, empirically prescribing oral fluconazole for 21 days. A viral serology was also requested, with negative results. Clinical improvement was present until the suspension of antifungal treatment, with an odynophagia relapse afterwards. Cultures were positive for C.albicans sensitive to fluconazole.