Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in a US citizen.
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) is endemic to many areas of Central and South America. A case of MCL in a US citizen is reported here. An ulcer appeared on the patient's left hard palate, years after a working trip to Peru. Punch biopsies of the lesion were obtained, Leishmania promastigotes were isolated by culture and animal inoculation, and the patient was appropriately treated. As this case demonstrates, a patient's travel history is a key element in making a differential diagnosis of oral lesions.
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dentistry, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jcosta@partners.org
Joseph W
JW
Costa
Danny A
DA
Milner
James H
JH
Maguire
D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000469:parasitology*; D010159:Palate / Q000469:parasitology*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate