A 40-year-old patient who has just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer tells the nurse that she is concerned about her mouth. During the assessment the nurse finds areas of buccal mucosa that are raw and red with some bleeding, as well as other areas that have a white, cheesy coating. What do these findings indicate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Candidiasis is a white, cheesy, curdlike patch on the buccal mucosa and tongue. It scrapes off, leaving a raw, red surface that easily bleeds. It also occurs after the use of antibiotics or corticosteroids and in people who are immunosuppressed. Leukoplakia appears as chalky white, thick, raised patches with well-defined borders on the buccal mucosa. Koplik spots are small blue-white spots with irregular red halo scattered over mucosa opposite the molars and is an early sign of measles. Aphthous ulcers, or canker sores, first appear as a vesicle and then a small, round, "punched out" ulcer with a white base surrounded by a red halo and are quite painful and last for 1-2 weeks. The findings for this patient indicate candidiasis.

A 40-Year-Old Patient Who Has Just Finished Chemotherapy for Breast