Cancrum oris (noma) in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. A complication of chemotherapy induced neutropenia.
Cancrum oris (noma) has been most commonly described in malnourished debilitated children with poor oral hygiene following systemic childhood infections such as measles, pertussis or scarlet fever. We describe a patient who developed this condition during a period of profound neutropenia following cytotoxic chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Brady-West
D C
DC
Department of Pathology, and Microbiology, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
Richards
L
L
Thame
J
J
Moosdeen
F
F
Nicholson
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009625:Noma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012074:Remission Induction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology