EXTENSIVE PALATAL SWELLING IN A PATIENT WITH SICKLE CELL TRAIT: A CASE REPORT

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2020-09, Vol.130 (3), p.e190-e190
• Main Authors: AZEVEDO, JULIANA SANTOS DE JESUS, JULIÃO, ERIELMA LOMBA DIAS, DANTAS, JULIANA BORGES DE LIMA, REIS, JÚLIA VIANNA NERI ANDRADE, TORREGROSSA, VINICIUS RABELO
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2212-4403; 2212-4411
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2020.04.382

Although sickle cell trait (SCT) has been viewed as a benign condition, data are accumulating of serious complications due to red cell sickling enhanced by hypoxia, acidosis, and hypertonicity. Asymptomatic pulp necrosis (APN) is a common oral complication in patients with sickle cell disease, but no data were found associating APN in patients with SCT. We aimed to report a case of an extensive palatal swelling secondary to multiple APN in a patient with SCT. A 37-year-old woman with SCT was referred for evaluation of a year-long palatal expanding swelling of the left maxilla. Clinical examination revealed APN in clinically intact permanent teeth associated with the lesion, which were referred to endodontic treatment, and an excisional biopsy was performed. Microscopic examination confirmed the hypothesis of a periapical granuloma. A degree of clinical suspicion is required by dentists when pulpal necrosis of unknown origin are presented by patients with SCT.