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LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 42
| Issue : 2 | Page : 182-184 |
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A case of paracoccidioidomycosis in a HIV-positive patient
Debdeep Mitra1, Krishna Talukdar2, Gautam Kumar Singh1, Barnali Mitra3
1 Departments of Dermatology, Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Dermatology, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India
3 Department of Pediatrics, Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, New Delhi, India
| Date of Submission | 15-Jul-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 04-Oct-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 13-Jan-2021 |
| Date of Web Publication | 20-Oct-2021 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Debdeep Mitra
Department of Dermatology, Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, New Delhi - 110 010
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijstd.IJSTD_80_20
How to cite this article:
Mitra D, Talukdar K, Singh GK, Mitra B. A case of paracoccidioidomycosis in a HIV-positive patient. Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2021;42:182-4 |
How to cite this URL:
Mitra D, Talukdar K, Singh GK, Mitra B. A case of paracoccidioidomycosis in a HIV-positive patient. Indian J Sex Transm Dis [serial online] 2021 [cited 2023 Sep 28];42:182-4. Available from: https://ijstd.org/text.asp?2021/42/2/182/328746 |
Sir,
A 35-year-old HIV-positive male with a CD4 count of 20 cells/μl presented with 2-month history of insidious onset, painless, skin-colored nodules over face [Figure 1]. Gradually, the number of lesions increased, and new lesions appeared over the entire head-and-neck region. The patient was not on any antiretroviral therapy and was evaluated on the basis of his clinical presentation and cutaneous markers suggestive of an underlying immune suppression. His examination revealed generalized lymphadenopathy, angular cheilitis, and mucosal candidiasis. A differential diagnosis of systemic mycosis including paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis was considered, considering the morphology of the lesions and the underlying immunosuppression. The other differentials which were considered included multiple giant molluscum contagiosum, acneiform drug eruptions, cutaneous sarcoidosis, histoid leprosy, lupus vulgaris, cutaneous leishmaniasis, cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia, and other granulomatous disorders. Skin biopsy of one of the nodules [Figure 2] revealed a dense granulomatous inflammation with lymphocytes, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells along with overlying epidermal pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. High-power examination revealed large round fungal forms. There were numerous eosinophils. The characteristic feature of the histopathology was the presence of several minute narrow-based buds surrounding the large round fungal forms. These have often been referred to as “mariner's wheels” or “captain wheels” considering their appearance. His Chest X-ray did not reveal any evidence of systemic fungal infection or tuberculosis. He was started on highly active antiretroviral therapy and capsule itraconazole 100 mg twice daily for the next 6 months. | Figure 1: Multiple skin-colored nodules over face with angular cheilitis
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 | Figure 2: Histopathology showing granulomas with dense aggregation of lymphocytes, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells in × 40 magnification (a), and several Paracoccidioides sp. (yellow arrows) in × 100 magnification (b) showing as “mariner's wheel” or “captains wheel” appearance with abundant round to oval yeast cells enclosed in a granuloma. Gomori Methenamine Silver stain
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Paracoccidioidomycosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection caused by a dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.[1] It is primarily a systemic pulmonary infection then spreading onto oral mucosa and skin.[2] P. brasiliensis naturally resides in soil, and the infection is due to inhalation of its propagules. Paracoccidioidomycosis rarely affects the skin in isolation. Cutaneous lesions generally originate from contiguous lesions, from hematogenous dissemination, or rarely, from direct inoculation of P. brasiliensis into the skin. Skin lesions generally appear over the face mostly around the mouth and nose. Lesions tend to be monomorphic initially and later may ulcerate or settle with a verrucous appearance. Sometimes, a sarcoid-like lesion on the face can be a close differential adding additional diagnostic difficulties, but sarcoid-like lesions have few, if any, visible fungi on histologic examination.[3]
The histopathology was classic in this case with the presence of Mariner's wheel appearance, and this helps in differentiating from other subcutaneous and systemic mycoses. The other differential diagnoses considered were eliminated due to the presence of granulomas and fungal buddying yeast. The classical clinical features and histopathological features are listed in [Table 1].
This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of this fungal infection preventing a systemic dissemination. The case is rare as isolated cutaneous presentation without pulmonary involvement is generally not reported. Furthermore, underlying immunosuppression due to HIV did alter its clinical presentation, and cutaneous cases of paracoccidioidomycosis are also not reported frequently in HIV setup. Itraconazole 100 twice daily is the standard therapy recommended for 6–9 months.[4] In therapy resistant cases or more severe infection, as in multiorgan spread including pulmonary dissemination, amphotericin B deoxycholate in doses of 0.75–1.0 mg/kg daily is recommended, followed by sulfamethoxazole 2400 mg daily for 24 months.[4] The present case illustrates the diagnosis process and successful systemic treatment of a paracoccidioidomycosis case in the backdrop of HIV infection and may serve as an alert for clinicians about the manifestation and importance of diagnosing and treating this infection.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Tomo S, da Silva RL, Miyahara GI, Stefanini AR, Simonato LE. Diagnosis and treatment of primary paracoccidioidomycosis in oral mucosa. Dermatol Ther 2020;33: e13314.  |
| 2. | Conant NF. Manual of Clinical Mycology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1963. |
| 3. | Trindade AH, Meira HC, Pereira IF, de Lacerda JCT, de Mesquita RA, Santos VR. Oral paracoccidioidomycosis: Retrospective analysis of 55 Brazilian patients. Mycoses 2017;60:521-5. |
| 4. | Abreu e Silva MÀ, Salum FG, Figueiredo MA, Cherubini K. Important aspects of oral paracoccidioidomycosis—A literature review. Mycoses 2013;56:189-99. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
[Table 1]
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Phototherapies as an adjuvant treatment for oral paracoccidioidomycosis |
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| Milena Goulart Guirado, Luiz Felipe Palma, Rafael Verardi Serrano, Cristina Maria Arvate Alvares, Luana Campos | | Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. 2022; : 102771 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
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