Patients may present with multiple areas of chronic atrophic candidiasis. These are most often seen in immunocompromised individuals or in patients with predisposing factors such as ill-ļ¬tting dentures. The changes frequently affect the dor-
sum of the tongue and midline of the hard palate (kissing lesions), commissure area (angular cheilitis), and denturebearing mucosal surfaces (Figure 5-23). Smoking may also play an important role in immunocompetent patients.