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Gingival
leishmaniasis in an HIV-negative patient.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2007
Dec;104(6):e12-6. Epub 2007 Oct 17.
Gingival
leishmaniasis is unusual and is mainly observed in immunocompromised
patients. We report a case involving the palate, uvula, and gingiva of
an HIV-negative patient who was initially diagnosed as having
paracoccidioidomycosis. The patient underwent a biopsy for parasite
isolation and in situ histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The
Leishmania spp. were detected in lesions of the uvula and gingiva.
Despite the poor state of teeth, the gingival lesions were caused by
American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). The gingival lesions
presented an intense inflammatory infiltrate permeated by neutrophils.
Immunohistochemistry revealed a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate.
The patient responded well to treatment, with no reactivation during
follow-up. The rarity of gingival involvement in immunocompetent
patients and the need for inclusion of ATL in the differential
diagnosis of gingival lesions are discussed.
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