A 45-year-old male alcoholic with liver cirrhosis wears a partial denture. He complains of bad breath and has erythema below the denture base with white hyphae. What is the diagnosis?

Correct answer: A. Lichenoid reaction

• A. Correct. Erythema under the denture base with white hyphae in an immunocompromised patient (alcoholism/cirrhosis) is classic Candida albicans denture stomatitis. Hyphae are the key histologic identifier.
• B. Incorrect. Nicotinic stomatitis appears as a white cobblestone palate from heat/smoke. It does not present with hyphae.
• C. Incorrect. Herpetic stomatitis presents with painful vesicles/ulcers, not erythema with hyphae under a denture.
• D. Incorrect. Lichenoid reactions show Wickham's striae-like white lines. Hyphae presence confirms fungal etiology.

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