Oral manifestations leading to the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a young girl

Abstract

Background: oral complications may be leukemia′s first presentation. Aim: to present a case of a young girl with a swelling on the face that led to the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is reported. Results: a 10-year old anemic girl was referred for evaluation and treatment of a swelling at the left-nasolabial region. Symptoms reported (tiredness, poor appetite, fever, lethargy, and musculoskeletal pain) and clinical findings (enlargement at the presternal region and brownish stain in the lumbar region) led to the suspicion of a hematopoietic malignancy. The diagnosis of lymphoblastic leukemia was attained after specific examination conducted by the pediatric oncologist and hematologist. Conclusion: dentists must be able to clearly recognize oral physiological characteristics, and, when identifying changes of normalcy, to fully investigate it requesting additional tests or referring the patient to specialized professionals.

Keywords

• Acute
• diagnosis
• leukemia
• leukemia
• lymphoblastic
• lymphoid
• oral manifestations