Gingival Enlargement and Facial Petechiae: Early Indicators of Pediatric Leukemia

Hussein Fathy  Abo-elkheir; Ahmed Ashraf  El-sayed; Ahmed  Abdallah Khalil

doi:10.18502/ijpho.v15i3.18924

Hussein Fathy Abo-elkheir Assistant lecturer Faculty of Dentistry, Minia University, Egypt
Ahmed Ashraf El-sayed Resident, Hospital of faculty of Dentistry, Minia University, Egypt
Ahmed Abdallah Khalil Professor, Faculty Dentistry, Minia University, Egypt

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpho.v15i3.18924

Keywords: Gingival Enlargement, Leukemia, Oral Diagnosis, Petechiae

Abstract

In 2020, there were 311,594 deaths due to leukemia. It is reported that leukemia accounts for only 4% of new cancer cases in males and 3% in females. Nevertheless, leukemia is the most common malignancy in children and adolescents. Childhood leukemia is typically diagnosed by pediatricians or family doctors. This report presents a case of leukemia in a 14-year-old male, initially suspected by a dentist at a dental hospital, with the diagnosis confirmed by a complete blood count laboratory test. Gingival enlargement and petechiae throughout the body—especially on the face and arms—were key signs leading to suspicion and diagnosis, which had previously been overlooked by the family doctor and an otorhinolaryngology (ENT) consultant.