title: Invasive oral aspergillosis in a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: Aspergillosis (a fungal infection by an organism of the Aspergillus species) of the oral cavity is an uncommon condition which most frequently occurs in immunocompromised patients, such as those with haematological malignancies. In such patients, prolonged neutropenia secondary to chemotherapeutic agents enables the spread of invasive aspergillosis, which is unaffected by anatomical barriers. Early detection and treatment of the condition is essential to avoid more serious complications, such as disseminated infection, which results in increased morbidity and mortality. This case report describes a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia who developed localized invasive Aspergillus flavus of the palate. High-dose antifungal therapy was instituted along with surgical removal of the involved tissues. Aspergillosis of the palate was successfully eradicated with no long-term ill effects from the treatment. Management of invasive aspergillosis includes early aggressive antifungal medication combined with surgical removal of the involved tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery,Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand. cho.howard@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Colquhoun
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005892:Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D010159:Palate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents