Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2022 | Acute Myeloid Leukemia | Case report
Noma disease (cancrum oris, orofacial gangrene) in an acute myeloid leukemia patient: a case report
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2022
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Background
Noma is a rare disease that occurs mainly in malnourished patients in developing countries. Noma starts as facial swelling and gingival necrosis that eventually necrotizes underlying tissues including the jaw bone, leaving severe disfigurement. It is reported extremely rarely in patients with severe immunosuppression or blood dyscrasia.
Case presentation
The gingivitis that occurred in a 12-year-old Asian female patient with acute myeloid leukemia was getting increasingly worse. Although the proper treatment was done, the patient’s condition did not improve, and eventually, a large full-thickness defect was left in the maxillofacial part.
Conclusions
Early diagnosis and management is the only way to prevent the progression, which leads to facial disfigurement. We present a case of noma in a pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patient, in which oral function was restored through surgical intervention.