[Oro-dental manifestations of leukemia in children]

Abstract

Every year in Canada, approximately one thousand cancer cases are reported in children from birth to age 14. Leukemia accounts for approximately 30 per cent of these cases. Leukemia and its treatment are likely to cause to children more oral complications than all other types of cancer. Both the leukemic condition itself and the therapy cause oral signs and symptoms with significant morbidity. Since life expectancy for a patient with leukemia has been greatly improved, dentists have an increasing role to play before, during and after a treatment against leukemia. A review of the oral manifestations related to leukemia and its treatment is presented.