Cancrum oris--a 35-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the factors predisposing to cancrum oris and its frequency, clinical features, treatment and outcome. Cancrum oris is a gangrenous condition of the face usually occurring in poorly nourished children in a Third-World setting.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of clinical data on children with cancrum oris.

SETTING

All children with cancrum oris seen over a 35-year period, from 1960 to 1995, at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RXH) in Cape Town.

SUBJECTS

Twenty-six patients (16 female and 10 male) with cancrum oris. Their average age at presentation was 4 years and 4 months (range 1-15 years).

RESULTS

The peak incidence was between 1971 and 1975 (11 cases); subsequently only 1 new case was seen at RXH in every 5-year period. Most children were referred from rural areas. Associated conditions could only be determined in 11 of the 26 patients. In order of frequency, these were malnutrition, gastro-enteritis, measles and anaemia. Twenty-three of the 26 children had soft-tissue involvement affecting the lips, cheek, chin, nose or other structures. Eighteen had bony or cartilaginous involvement; the maxilla was affected in 15, the palate in 7, the vomer in 5, the mandible in 3 and the nasal septum in 7. Three children had bony involvement only, the soft tissues being spared. Operative records were available for 18 children. These 18 children had a total of 84 operations, with an average of 4.7 per child (range 0-12).

CONCLUSIONS

Cancrum oris is a devastating condition affecting malnourished children. Reconstruction is complex and demanding, involving both soft tissue (23 of 26 cases) and bone (18 of 26 cases). Most children require multiple procedures. Prevention is best effected by comprehensive primary health care.