Oral mucosal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma--a dangerous mimic

Unusual Presentation of Oral DLBCL Resembling a Canine Fossa Abscess

This report aims to describe a unique case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma originating from the oral cavity, which presented with symptoms mimicking a canine fossa abscess. It emphasizes the importance of accurate differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A 64-year-old female patient visited the authors' clinic with a painful swelling in the left anterior region of the maxilla, persisting for 1 month. Initially, an abscess drainage procedure was performed, accompanied by extraction of the maxillary left canine and parenteral antibiotherapy. However, no improvement was observed during the follow-up appointment after 3 days. An incisional biopsy was then conducted under local anesthesia, leading to a histopathologic diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient is currently under the care of the hematology department and receiving maintenance chemotherapy. Lymphomas occurring in the oral cavity are uncommon and may exhibit non-specific clinical features that resemble benign oral and dental conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive clinical evaluation is necessary to achieve an early and accurate diagnosis, with histopathologic examination being essential for suspicious lesions.

A Rare Case of T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A Diagnostic Predicament

Lymphomas are the malignant neoplasms of lymphocytes and their precursor cells. Their diagnosis can sometimes be difficult due to their similarity to various other entities. A 10-year-old female reported swelling on the right side of the upper jaw for a month which was associated with mild continuous pain. On examination, a mild diffused swelling was noted on the right middle third of the face region which was firm in consistency and slightly tender. Intraorally, a firm tender swelling was noted on the right side of the hard palate. A proximal caries was noted with 55. A provisional diagnosis of dentoalveolar abscess with 55 was made. A panoramic radiograph showed loss of lamina dura concerning 11, 12, 53, 14, and 55, and loss of floor of the maxillary sinus. Cone-beam computed tomography and computed tomography-paranasal sinus revealed an ill-defined, hypodense osteolytic lesion with irregular borders extending from the 11 to 15 tooth region. Radiographic evaluation was suggestive of an infectious or neoplastic lesion. An incisional biopsy was performed and sent for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. A diagnosis of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma was made based on the features seen. The patient was sent for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The reduction in the size of the lesion was noted on follow-up. Lymphoblastic lymphoma is a neoplasm of lymphocytes that is rarely seen in the oral cavity. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are necessary to prevent further complications.

An evidence based immunohistochemical panel for diagnosing oral lymphoma along with a case series

Oral lymphomas are rare and present a diagnostic challenge. Immunophenotyping is essential to decipher their biology and identify therapeutic targets. Histopathology can prove to be diagnostically difficult to type these lesions, and hence, immunohistochemistry (IHC) proves useful in deciphering their biology. Here, we present an evidence-based approach using a novel immunohistochemical marker panel to diagnose oral lymphomas by discussing four unique cases.

Delayed diagnosis of oral lymphoma: a case series

Lymphomas are the second most common neoplasm in the head and neck. The clinical and radiographic presentation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the oral cavity is non-specific and can be hard to differentiate from other common infectious or inflammatory conditions. We report four cases of lymphoma of the head and neck, which presented as odontogenic infection, osteomyelitis, or cutaneous infection, and subsequently led to a delay in provision of appropriate treatment. Correlation between clinical, radiographic and histological findings is essential in reaching an accurate diagnosis. It is important for clinicians to consider malignant lesions, such as lymphoma, in the differential diagnosis of pain, swelling, tooth mobility or radiographic radiolucencies. Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for malignancy when inflammatory lesions fail to respond to normal modes of treatment.

Oral Malignant Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the incidence of oral non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in patients referred to the Academic Hospital of the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro from 2002 to 2020. A retrospective single-center study was performed. Patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of oral NHL were included. Demographic data and clinical parameters were digitally recorded, focusing on the NHL-specific localization and symptomatology. The study sample was evaluated by analyzing descriptive statistics with absolute and relative frequencies. A total of 26 patients with intraoral NHL were identified with a progressive increase in NHL occurrence during the observation period. Clinical manifestations included swelling/mass (80.7%), eventually associated with pain and ulcerations. The most common localizations were in soft tissues: buccal mucosa (38.4%), tongue (19.2%), gingiva (11.5%), cheek (11.5%). Oral NHL is rare. Clinical manifestations were unspecific, so a misdiagnosis could occur. The extranodal B-cell form of oral NHL, particularly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, was the most common frequent oral NHL in this southern Italian population, with a progressively increased occurrence in almost 20 years.

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the mandible: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms of lymphocytes and their precursor cells. Lymphoma is seen 3.5% of all intraoral malignancies and is the second most common neoplasm after the squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region. Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), which is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are seen mostly in the paraoral region.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 82-year-old woman was referred with a localised swelling of the mandibular buccal mucosa for 3 months. Excisional biopsy revealed the diagnosis of DLBCL in the mandible and chemotherapy regimen started immediately. However, patient died during treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas would be late- or misdiagnosed in the perioral region that may result poor prognosis.

A case report of a primary lymphoma of the tongue presenting as trigeminal neuralgia

BACKGROUND

Primary lymphoma of the oral cavity is a rare phenomenon. Herein we describe a unique presentation of lymphoma of the tongue which initially manifested as trigeminal neuralgia.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 63-year-old female experienced a 10-month history of paresthesia and neuropathic pain involving the left tongue and mandibular area of her face. Investigations including imaging and biopsy revealed primary lymphoma of the tongue with extensive perineural spread. The patient underwent standard chemotherapy with complete radiological response, but minimal recovery of the affected neurological functions.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights an unusual presentation of a rare disease leading to a delay in diagnosis and the importance of a complete workup for trigeminal neuropathy.

Lumps and Bumps of the Gingiva: A Pathological Miscellany

Lesions of the gingivae are amongst the commonest lesions seen in patients and the vast majority are reactive hyperplasias, related to a number of chronic irritant stimuli. However, there are a number of entities that have a predilection for the gingivae, which are much less common in other parts of the oral cavity. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the clinical and histological differential diagnoses when presented with a lump on the gingivae, including the approach to diagnosis and diagnostic pitfalls.

Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of oral cancers

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous gamma-herpesvirus that establishes a lifelong persistent infection in the oral cavity and is intermittently shed in the saliva. EBV exhibits a biphasic life cycle, supported by its dual tropism for B lymphocytes and epithelial cells, which allows the virus to be transmitted within oral lymphoid tissues. While infection is often benign, EBV is associated with a number of lymphomas and carcinomas that arise in the oral cavity and at other anatomical sites. Incomplete association of EBV in cancer has questioned if EBV is merely a passenger or a driver of the tumorigenic process. However, the ability of EBV to immortalize B cells and its prevalence in a subset of cancers has implicated EBV as a carcinogenic cofactor in cellular contexts where the viral life cycle is altered. In many cases, EBV likely acts as an agent of tumor progression rather than tumor initiation, conferring malignant phenotypes observed in EBV-positive cancers. Given that the oral cavity serves as the main site of EBV residence and transmission, here we review the prevalence of EBV in oral malignancies and the mechanisms by which EBV acts as an agent of tumor progression.

Management of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Maxillofacial Region with Chemotherapy

Malignant lymphomas form a heterogeneous group of neoplasms of the lymphoid tissue with different clinical courses, depending on the treatment and prognosis. Lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm of the lymphoid tissue; it is broadly classified into Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and Non-HL (NHL) depending on the presence or absence of the Reed–Sternberg cells. The main types of lymphomas are (1) HL and (2) NHL. This case report describes about primary NHL involving the mandible. Chemotherapy was advised by the oncologist, and a total of 14 cycles were suggested at the gap of every 2 weeks. The treatment regimen followed was classical Cyclophosphamide hydrodaunorubicin oncovin Prednisolone (CHOP) therapy. NHL can be managed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery in various combinations. NHL arising in bone is best treated by chemotherapy and may not require radiotherapy. Survival and prognosis are excellent in localized disease, whereas disseminated disease seems less favorable.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma of the palate

Lymphoblastic lymphomas are neoplasms of immature or precursor lymphoid cells with no or limited bone marrow involvement, whose clinical presentation varies according to the immunophenotype. While mediastinal involvement is predominant in T-lymphoblastic lymphomas, B-lymphoblastic lymphomas frequently involve nodal sites. Extranodal presentation of B-lymphoblastic lymphomas is extremely rare. We present the case of a 49-year-old man with B-lymphoblastic lymphoma of the hard palate. The patient was treated with the R-Hyper CVAD regimen and is on maintenance chemotherapy. This is the first reported case of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma arising in the hard palate.

Lymphoma presenting as a toothache: a wolf in sheep's clothing

Although rare in the oral cavity, oral non-Hodgkin lymphoma frequently mimics odontogenic and other oral pathologies. The purpose of this report is to discuss the diagnostic difficulty in a case of a 75-year-old man with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting initially as a toothache.

Leukemic Oral Manifestations and their Management

Leukemia is the most common neoplastic disease of the white blood cells which is important as a pediatric malignancy. Oral manifestations occur frequently in leukemic patients and may present as initial evidence of the disease or its relapse. The symptoms include gingival enlargement and bleeding, oral ulceration, petechia, mucosal pallor, noma, trismus and oral infections. Oral lesions arise in both acute and chronic forms of all types of leukemia. These oral manifestations either may be the result of direct infiltration of leukemic cells (primary) or secondary to underlying thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, or impaired granulocyte function. Despite the fact that leukemia has long been known to be associated with oral lesions, the available literature on this topic consists mostly of case reports, without data summarizing the main oral changes for each type of leukemia. Therefore, the present review aimed at describing oral manifestations of all leukemia types and their dental management. This might be useful in early diagnosis, improving patient outcomes.

Diagnosing oral ulcers

Oral ulcers are common and can have many causes, making diagnosis challenging. This article provides an overview of common oral ulcers and an algorithmic approach to establishing the correct diagnosis. Factors such as duration, pattern of recurrence, clinical appearance, mucosal location, and presence or absence of systemic symptoms are useful clues to determining an ulcer's cause.

Oral manifestations of lymphoma: a systematic review

Lymphoma is a malignant disease with two forms: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is diagnosed in extranodal sites in 40% of cases, and the head and neck region is the second most affected, with an incidence of 11-33%, while HL has a very low incidence in extranodal sites (1-4%). The aim of this study was to identify the oral manifestations of lymphoma through a systematic literature review, which we conducted using the PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We found 1456 articles, from which we selected 73. Among the intraoral findings, the most frequent were ulcerations, pain, swelling, and tooth mobility, while the extraoral findings included facial asymmetry and cervical, submandibular, and submental lymphadenopathy. Among the few studies reporting imaging findings, the most cited lesions included hypodense lesions with diffuse boundaries, bone resorptions, and tooth displacements. The publications reviewed highlight gaps in the areas of early detection, diagnosis, and proper treatment.

Primary extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of gingiva: A diagnostic dilemma

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a rare entity. When it does occur, mandibular NHL typically manifests similar to an odontogenic pathology. This results in delayed diagnosis and treatment. We present a 50-year-old female who was erroneously treated for a pyogenic granuloma several months before the correct diagnosis of extranodal primary NHL of the oral cavity was made. Fortunately, the solitary bony lymphoma had not disseminated and management by chemo-radiation allowed for disease eradication and new post-treatment bone formation. The purpose of this report is to describe a rare case of primary NHL of the mandible, explore the diagnosis and work-up and discuss treatment strategies. This case illustrates the need for co-operative diagnostic referrals between physicians and dentists.

Extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as gingival mass

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) commonly presents as non-tender, enlarged lymph nodes, accompanied by diffuse symptoms of fatigue and low-grade intermittent fever and it is derived predominantly from the cells of the B lymphocyte series. NHL cases occur extra-nodally and in 3% of these cases the initial presentation may be in the oral cavity. Though extra-nodal NHL of the oral cavity is a rare finding, patients with oral lesions of NHL commonly present at the dental clinic in the first instance. A careful clinical evaluation supported by histopathological and other laboratory investigations will help in identifying the disease at an early stage, resulting in better prognosis. Any delay in diagnosis has important implications on the morbidity and mortality of the condition. Due to the rarity of intraoral NHL, we present one such a case with a complaint of tumor-like mass on the gingiva of lower molar region. The lesion was clinically thought as pyogenic granuloma and later diagnosed as extra nodal NHL of the oral cavity.

T-cell lymphoma of the oral cavity: a case report

Lymphomas are defined as heterogeneous malignancies of the lymphatic system characterized by a proliferation of lymphoid cells or their precursors. Malignant lymphoma of the oral cavity has been described previously although reports on the occurrence of intraoral extranodal T-cell lymphomas are scarce. Oral lesions may appear as a painless enlargement, erythematous, often with surface ulceration secondary to trauma. This is a report of a rare case in which a specific subtype of T-cell lymphoma appeared in the oral cavity.

Lymphoma in the infraorbital region

BACKGROUND

B-cell lymphomas are rare neoplasms in the oral cavity. They are significant to dentists because the oral complications associated with treatment mean that dentists can play an important role in their detection.

CASE DESCRIPTION

The authors describe the case of a 55-year-old man with nonhealing ulcers, swelling and pain six months after maxillary left canine extraction. As it occurred in the infraorbital region after canine tooth extraction, the authors suspected B-cell lymphoma. Clinical examination revealed infraorbital edema with regional submandibular lymphadenopathy. Intraoral examination revealed a nonhealing ulceration with ill-defined borders in the surrounding mucosa. It was 5- x 5-centimeters in diameter and gray-white. The histopathologic examination showed diffuse, atypical, lymphoid cell infiltration and immuno-histochemically positive staining. After the histopathologic examination, the authors referred the patient to a medical center for treatment.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Dentists should look for signs of B-cell lymphoma when a patient has extended pain and swelling after an extraction.

[Intraoral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Presentation of 4 clinical cases]

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) represent an heterogeneous group of malignancies of lymphoreticular histogenesis. In most cases, they initially arise within lymph nodes but so-called extranodal lymphomas are also found. The NHL has low incidence in the oral cavity. It may involve bone and/or soft tissues as a primary or secondary manifestation. We present a review of the literature and four clinical cases of intraoral NHL. The first couple of cases are primary forms, the third one is associated to HIV infection and the last one is an oral presentation as a component of more widely disseminated disease.