title: Mucosal leishmaniasis in Brazilian patients: two case reports with similar clinical presentation and different approaches.
abstract: Mucosal leishmaniasis is a chronic infection that affects the upper respiratory tract and/or the oral mucosa caused by Leishmania protozoan parasites. We present two cases of oral leishmaniasis and discuss the different diagnostic strategies and treatment. In both cases, the patients were male, 60 and 94 years of age, and presented with lesions on the soft palate. In the first patient, the final diagnosis was made on the basis of histopathologic examination. In the second case, polymerase chain reaction and Montenegro skin test were necessary to confirm the diagnosis. The first patient was treated with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime), and the lesions healed after 2 months. In the second case, the patient received treatment with liposomal amphotericin B but later died as a result of generalized infection. Mucosal leishmaniasis is a highly disfiguring disease. Early diagnosis is important to prevent a lethal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Fernanda
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Stomatology Service, Odilon Behrens Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: renatagresende@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Renata Gonçalves
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.affiliation: Stomatology Service, Odilon Behrens Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Ricaldoni
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Stomatology Service, Odilon Behrens Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlio César Tanos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Lacerda
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Ferreira
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cássia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferreira Aguiar
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000469:parasitology*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D000666:Amphotericin B