The importance of intraoral examination in the differential diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a deep mycosis caused by the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis fungus. The primary disease affects the lungs, and can spread to other organs and tissues, creating secondary lesions. The most frequent systemic signs and symptoms are cough, lung secretion and weight loss. When present, the oral lesions are characterized by red and punctual micropapulae, settled amidst the whitish membrane of an ulcer. This paper reports two cases of PCM, initially diagnosed like other pulmonary diseases, where the definitive diagnosis was only possible after a histopathology test of the oral lesions.