Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects of Mucosal Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, with the presentation restricted to the mucosa being infrequent. Although the nasal mucosa is the main site affected in this form of the disease, it is also possible the involvement of the lips, mouth, pharynx and larynx. The lesions are characteristically ulcerative-vegetative, with granulation tissue formation. Patients usually complain of pain, dysphagia and odynophagia. Differential diagnosis should include cancer, infectious diseases and granulomatous diseases. We present a case of a 64-year-old male patient, coming from an endemic area for American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL), with a chief complaint of persistent dysphagia and nasal obstruction for 6 months. The lesion was ulcerative with a purulent infiltration into the soft palate and uvula. After excluding other diseases, ATL was suggested as a hypothesis, having been requested serology and biopsy of the lesions. Was started the treatment with pentavalent antimony and the patient presented regression of the lesions in 30 days, with no other complications.