Cutaneous pneumocystosis.
A 42-year-old man with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with a 9-month history of progressive hearing loss and bilateral external auditory canal masses. Biopsy of the right ear mass detected Pneumocystis carinii. The patient was treated with a 7-day course of intravenous trimethoprim, followed by a 3-week course of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, with a marked reduction in the size of his ear masses. This is the first reported case of skin involvement by P. carinii in a patient with AIDS. Because of our patient's documented response to treatment, we stress the importance of biopsy of cutaneous lesions in this group of patients, who may have a potentially treatable condition.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D004424:Ear Canal; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004432:Ear, Middle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011010:Pneumocystis; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology