Dental and Medical Problems

Dent Med Probl
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Dental and Medical Problems

2015, vol. 52, nr 3, July-September, p. 345–350

Publication type: clinical case

Language: English

License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Delayed Diagnosis of Sarcoma of the Oral Cavity – Case Report

Późne rozpoznanie mięsaka jamy ustnej – opis przypadku

Patrycja Proc1,A,B,C,D, Joanna Trelińska2,B,C, Małgorzata Zubowska2,A,B,C,D

1 Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland

2 Department of Pediatrics, Oncology, Hematology and Diabetology, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland

Abstract

The paper describes the case of a 16-year-old boy (R.G.) with misdiagnosed pain in teeth 12 and 11 and tumor of the right cheek. The patient was treated in a private dental surgery for over four months without proper diagnosis made. As no effect was gained by the endodontic treatment of two permanent upper incisors, the extraction of one of them (tooth number 12) and three courses of antibiotic therapy, the patient was referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Łódź. During an initial investigation, cancer was suspected. In the Department of Pediatrics, Oncology, Hematology and Diabetology, Medical University of Łódź, the diagnosis of sarcoma (Rhabdomyosarcoma alveolar) in the suborbital region was confirmed by histopathological investigation. Oncological treatment was begun and the root canal therapy of tooth 11 had to be continued, despite it being located inside the malignant tumor. However, despite intensive anticancer therapy, the patient died 5 years after diagnosis. On the basis of the described case, a dentist should be aware that atypical symptoms and the failure of typical dental treatment can be signs of a general disease, including cancer of the oral cavity. Early detection of neoplasm always improves the patient’s chances of full recovery.

Key words

child, sarcoma, toothache

Słowa kluczowe

dziecko, mięsak, ból zęba

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