Australian Dental Journal 2003;48:3. 195

Acute leukaemia presenting as oral ulceration to a dental emergency service AK Dean, * JW Ferguson, † ES Marvan‡ Leukaemia is a neoplastic disease characterized by an excessive proliferation of immature white blood cells and their precursors. Oral lesions may be the presenting feature of acute leukaemias, which can be rapidly fatal if left untreated. This report describes the case of a 22-year-old female who presented to a dental emergency department with oral manifestations of acute leukaemia. It outlines the role of oral lesions in the diagnosis of acute leukaemias and emphasizes the importance of immediate referral by general dental practitioners. Key words: Acute leukaemia, oral ulceration, oral manifestations