The importance of the dentist in the early diagnosis of leukemia
a scoping review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35699/2178-1990.2025.57931Keywords:
leukemia, oral manifestations, dentistsAbstract
Aim: Our study aims to estimate how dentists can contribute to the early diagnosis of leukemia through recognizing oral manifestations and initiating timely referrals.
Methods: We conducted a scoping review search of the literature that analyzed the dentist’s role in the early diagnosis of leukemia, as well as its manifestations in the oral cavity. We followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The electronic searches were carried out in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar as a source of gray literature.
Results: From a total of 3.578 potentially eligible articles, 34 were selected for full-text methodology assessment, and 20 were included in the scoping review. The most common oral manifestations suggestive of leukemia are: ulcers, severe bleeding, gingival hyperplasia, necrosis in the gingival papillae, petechiae, and color change in the mucosa.
Conclusion: The dentist plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis of leukemia. When encountering the oral manifestations, systemic signs and symptoms presented in this scoping review, it is essential to promptly request complementary tests to aid in accurate diagnosis and a timely intervention.
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