Head and neck manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis: A retrospective study of histopathologically diagnosed cases in two medical centers in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND

Paracoccidoidomycosis (PCM) is a granulomatous systemic mycosis endemic in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVES

Analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases of PCM with head and neck manifestations in southern Brazil.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of histopathologically diagnosed cases of PCM with head and neck manifestations referred to two medical centers in the municipality of Santa Cruz do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during a 10-year period (2011-2020).

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were selected. The number of cases usually ranged from one to four per year, although 11 cases were diagnosed in 2019. Most patients were between 40 and 59 years old. In total, 21 patients were men and seven were women (male:female ratio 3:1). Most (92%) were Caucasian and 46% were smokers. Patients were from 12 municipalities in the central-eastern region of the state. The most frequent site of the lesions was the larynx. Associated HIV and squamous cell carcinoma were both present in three cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to analyze PCM cases from central-eastern Rio Grande do Sul. PCM is endemic in southern Brazil, and more epidemiological data are needed, considering that its incidence may be higher than currently estimated, as demonstrated by our results.