Gum hypertrophy in acute myeloid leukemia: an important clinical finding not to be missed

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is characterized by disordered differentiation and proliferation of abnormal hematopoietic stem cells. AML usually presents with symptoms of anemia like pallor and fatigue, recurrent infections, petechiae, and mucosal bleeds. Extramedullary infiltration of leukemic cells is a common finding like proptosis or myeloid sarcoma. The occurrence of gingival hypertrophy in the pediatric age group is uncommon and usually due to inflammation followed by prolonged use of certain drugs like cyclosporin or phenytoin. Gingival infiltration in AML is rare in children, usually associated with subtypes M4/M5 (FAB classification). This case report highlights the importance of considering AML as an important differential diagnosis in cases of gum hypertrophy, as being a less common cause, it is often overlooked. Timely diagnosis and prompt treatment can be lifesaving. Here, we report two cases who presented with gum hypertrophy.