title: Hard palate perforation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia due to mucormycosis - a case report.
abstract: Palatal perforation can occur due to trauma, infection and malignancy. Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection caused by an organism of class zygomycetes. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is the most common type of mucormycosis that typically starts in maxillary antrum in immunocompromised patients. Invasion of surrounding structures leads to necrotizing ulcer of the hard palate and ultimately leads to perforation. Here, we report a case of perforation of the hard palate due to mucormycosis in a eight years child having acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who was on prolonged chemotherapy and corticosteroid therapy. This case is being reported for its rarity. The aim of presenting this case report is to emphasize that the infection due to mucomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of hard palate perforation in ALL patients who are immunocompromised.
authors.affiliation: A. H. Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack, Orissa India.
authors.forename: Dipti R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Surendra N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Senapati
authors.forename: Praveen K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shruthi
authors.forename: Prajna Bimoch
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Paty
authors.forename: Gitanjali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarangi
keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Hard palate perforation; Immunocompromised; Mucormycosis