To the Editor:


I read the recent publication on paracoccidioidomycosis and cancer with great interest.(1) Rodrigues et al. concluded that a diagnosis of paracoccidiodomycosis increases the risk for lung cancer.(1) Indeed, there have been some previous reports on this issue. It is accepted that paracoccidioidomycosis can be an important overlapping infection in patients with cancer.(2) However, I have some comments on the article by Rodrigues et al. First, the report should not have drawn any conclusions regarding the "risk", because it was not an analytical study and did not have a case-control format. Second, a retrospective chart review implies a high possibility of underdiagnosis.


Viroj Wiwanitkit
Professor of Tropical Medicine,
Visiting Professor,
Hainan Medical College, Haikou, China


References


1. Rodrigues Gda S, Severo CB, Oliveira Fde M, Moreira Jda S, Prolla JC, Severo LC. Association between paracoccidioidomycosis and cancer. J Bras Pneumol. 2010;36(3):356-62.

2. Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Conceição YM, Kono A, Rivitti E, Campos AF, Campos SV. Neoplasia and paracoccidioidomycosis. Mycopathologia. 2008;165(4-5):303-12.