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The frequency of fungal infection in biopsies of oral mucosal lesions
Author(s) -
Barrett AW,
Kingsmill VJ,
Speight PM
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-0825.1998.tb00251.x
Subject(s) - histopathology , epithelial dysplasia , pathology , biopsy , medicine , tongue , periodic acid–schiff stain , grocott's methenamine silver stain , dysplasia , mycosis , staining , surgery
OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of fungal infection in biopsies of oral mucosal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histopathology reports issued between 1991–1995 inclusive were reviewed. During this period, a single section of each mucosal biopsy had been stained using the periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) technique. RESULTS: A total of 223 (4.7%) biopsies contained PAS‐positive fungi: 191 individuals were affected, 124 (64.9%) of whom were male. There was a significant (P < 0.01) positive association of fungal infection with moderate and severe epithelial dysplasia, median rhomboid glossitis and squamous papillomas. Where a subsequent biopsy was available, 21.9% dysplasias which were infected with fungi worsened in histological severity, as compared with 7.6% of dysplasias which were not infected at any stage. There was a significant negative association of fungal infection with benign fibrous overgrowths (P < 0.01), benign hyperkeratoses, lichenoid reactions and pyogenic granulomas (P < 0.05). The difference in frequency of infection between the tongue and other sites was also significantly higher (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically significant association between histologically‐determined fungal infection and epithelial dysplasia, and we recommend that a PAS stain be performed whenever oral epithelial dysplasia is diagnosed, especially in male patients. On histological confirmation of dysplasia, anti‐fungal therapy should be considered in the management of these lesions.