Oral manifestation in acute myeloid leukemia: case report

Abstract

Oral changes can be the first signs and symptoms of systemic alterations. It is an alert to the dental surgeon, who can make an early diagnosis of a systemic alteration through oral alterations. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant immunosuppressive disease in which systemic alterations frequently lead to oral alterations as the first sign of the disease. The dentist must be attentive to the possible oral signs to make a quick diagnosis. Objective: To describe an unusual oral manifestation of AML, with gingival overgrowth and necrosis located on the interdental papilla on the upper central incisors. Case report: A 15-year-old female is described with AML. She presented the following oral changes as the first manifestations of the disease: gingival bleeding, petechiae, and gingival enlargement necrosis located on the interdental papilla on the upper central incisors. The dental surgeon performed an oral evaluation, and, following the clinical signs, the symptoms, and a hematological exam, AML was suspected. The patient was quickly referred to an oncologist, but she died due to the severity of the disease. Conclusion: Dentists and multidisciplinary teams have a fundamental role in the early diagnosis of diseases with primary signs in the oral cavity and caring for oncology patients.