Oral exfoliative cytology in the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of conventional oral exfoliative cytology as a diagnostic tool in paracoccidioidomycosis.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cytologic smears and incisional biopsies were obtained from 10 patients with a clinical suspicion and oral manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis. Cytologic smears and sections of the incisional biopsy underwent methenamine silver staining for fungi according to the Gomori-Grocott method. The dry glass slides were examined at 400 or 1,000 x magnification, and the presence and shape of yeasts of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were investigated.

RESULTS

Yeasts of the fungus P brasiliensis were clearly identified in cytologic smears and sections from incisional biopsies in all cases analyzed (100.0%).

CONCLUSION

Cytology of oral samples proved an effective diagnostic method for the detection of paracoccidioidomycosis in humans.