Tropical mycoses are very rare diseases in this country. To date there have only been two published observations of paracoccidioidomycosis in the Federal Republic of Germany. In these rare cases the diagnosis is often delayed because paracoccidioidomycosis imitates frequently appearing and well-known diseases like tuberculosis or sarcoidosis. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are illustrated in a recently observed patient from Peru. Therapy consisted of ketoconazole 400 mg/day orally administered with good results and only transient side effects.