title: Oral presentation of histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient: a diagnostic challenge.
abstract: Histoplasmosis is a rare systemic fungal infection, primarily affecting the pulmonary system. Oral lesions are usually a manifestation of the disseminated form of the disease and most frequently observed in severely immunocompromised patients, such as those with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection and/or frank acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The clinical presentation of the oral lesions may be difficult to distinguish from oral squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathological features are usually characteristic, but occasionally the organisms are scanty and not readily identified, which can preclude obtaining the correct diagnosis and ensuring appropriate management. Histoplasmosis is an unusual and rare cause of chronic non-healing ulceration in the oral cavity. A case of histoplasmosis involving the oral cavity in an immunocompetent patient is reported, which was not recognized, resulting in the inappropriate management of the condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales; Department of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Special Needs Dentistry, Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schifter
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography
keywords: Fungus; granuloma; histology; histoplasmosis; immunocompetent