Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the oral cavity

Background: the treatment of NHL in the head and neck region is complex because of the numerous variables that are involved. Reports in the recent literature on NHL of the oral region have dealt with one ol two individual cases and routine treatment guidelines do not exist. Local lesions are responsive to radiotherapy as well as to chemotherapy, but the cure rates are discouragingly low. Patient and methods: we report a case of a painful swelling of the lower left gingiva. Local biopsy and a systemic work-up (labs, x-rays, eco scan, CT, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy) was performed Results: the biopsy of the oral lesion disclosed a malignant NHL; other examinations failed to find other foci of the lymphomatous process. Conclusions: this case of primitive NHL of the oral cavity summarises the main characteristics of this rather uncommon pathology: a) difficult diagnosis at presentation, often misdiagnosed for other more common oral diseases b) the importance of a local biopsy; c) rapid evolution; d) a good response to chemotherapy; e) poor prognosis.