Paracoccidioidomycosis: report of 2 cases mimicking squamous cell carcinoma

Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection in Latin America. This mucocutaneous disease often involves the oral mucosa and may clinically resemble other infectious and neoplastic processes. Paracoccidioidomycosis that clinically suggested squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 2 patients with a history of heavy alcohol and tobacco use. Antifungal therapy with ketoconazole and itraconazole resulted in resolution of the oral lesions. Interestingly, 1 patient had a pulmonary lesion that persisted after antifungal therapy, and biopsy proved this to be a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.