Tongue carcinoma as a secondary malignancy in a 17-year-old leukemia survivor: A case report

Spec Care Dentist. 2021 Jul;41(4):532-538. doi: 10.1111/scd.12590. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Abstract

Pediatric hematologic malignancies present an elevated survival rate, and these survivors may experience long-term complications, including secondary malignancies. This case describes a 17-year-old female patient previously treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who developed a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, T2N0M0) of the lateral border of the tongue diagnosed during dental follow-up 2 years and 9 months after the conclusion of ALL therapy (GBTLILLA99 protocol). The patient underwent exclusive surgical resection for the tongue SCC and is free of disease 11 years after the surgery. The current case report highlights the importance of monitoring the oral health of childhood cancer survivors. As part of a multidisciplinary team, our directives include counseling to avoid carcinogenic exposures.

Keywords: hematology; oral cancer; pediatric dentistry.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survivors
  • Tongue
  • Tongue Neoplasms*