AIDS-RELATED LYMPHOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY

Six new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), primarily located in the oral cavity, in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are presented. They all had a voluminous fungous tumoral mass, that extended from the gingiva to the buccal vestibule or palate. All were intravenous drug abusers. The diagnosis of AIDS was known in one patient, 2 patients presented with AIDS-related complex symptomatology, and in 3 cases NHL was the first manifestation of the HIV infection. All presented advanced stages (IV). Histologically, all were considered high grade NHL. It is recommended to determine the HIV status in all young patients affected with oral NHL. All intraoral lesions in AIDS patients or in patients that belong to a risk group should have a biopsy to rule out NHL or any other manifestations of AIDS.