title: Spontaneous gingival bleeding in an otherwise asymptomatic patient.
abstract: This case is presented to challenge the reader to formulate a differential diagnosis for a patient who visits the dentist with spontaneous, continuous gingival bleeding. When this situation occurs, it is serious and requires immediate attention and a specific treatment plan to arrive at the underlying diagnosis and control the bleeding. The signs and symptoms of a patient with gingival bleeding are presented for diagnosis; the history and management are detailed, and may be useful in diagnosing and treating similar patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Rybka
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology