title: Cryptococcocis: a rare fungal infection of the tongue.
abstract: Fungal infection in the oral cavity is not uncommon. The site involved is usually species related. Cryptococcus rarely infects the oral cavity. We report an elderly patient who presented with a central lesion on the dorsum of the tongue. Biopsy revealed a fungal infection. Special stains confirmed cryptococcus. Being a rare location for cryptococcal infection, clinical suspicion should be correlated with histopathological examination. Once confirmed, the patient should be treated with an antifungal medication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. irfan@kb.usm.my
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohamad
authors.forename: Baharudin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Rosdan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salim
authors.forename: Khairul Azhar
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rajet
authors.forename: Venkatesh R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents