Cancrum oris - a descriptive case series on 13 patients

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the age, gender, site distribution and associated systemic debelitating conditions [if any] of the patients with Cancrum Oris. A. descriptive retrospective study was undertaken in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit of Khyber College of Dentistry from January 2005 to January 2010. Information regarding the variables of the study i.e., age, gender, site distribution and associated systemic debilitating conditions, was collected from the ward charts during the study period. A. total of 13 patients reported to the unit during the study period, 8 males and 5 females with male to female ratio of 1.61. The age range of the patient was from 9 to 70years with the mean age of 37.69 SD + 22.65. The first and the third decade of life was the most common age group affected with Cancrum Oris i.e., 23.07% each, with another peak in the sixth decade of life i.e., 23.07%. bilateral anterior maxilla was affected in 30.76% cases. Uncontrolled diabetes was the common associated systemic debilitating condition i.e., 72%. All of the patients were from low socio-economic class. Cancrum oris is a disease of low-socioeconomic group. In our series of patients the most common associated debilitating systemic condition was diabetes melitis with a bimodal age distribution