Cancrum oris (noma) in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. A complication of chemotherapy induced neutropenia

ABSTRACT

Cancrum oris (noma) has been most commonly described in malnourished debilitated children with poor oral hygiene following systemic childhood infections such as measles, pertussis or scarlet fever. We describe a patient who developed this condition during a period of profound neutropenia following cytotoxic chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.