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


METHODS
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%).


CONCLUSIONS
Cytology of oral samples proved an effective diagnostic method for the detection of paracoccidioidomycosis in humans.
de Araújo
M S
MS
Department of Oral Pathology, Schools of Dentistry, Uberaba University, Uberaba, Brazil.
Mesquita
R A
RA
Corrêa
L
L
de Sousa
S O
SO
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000166:cytology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*