NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA (NHL) OF THE ORAL CAVITY

Background: the treatment of NHL in the head and neck region is comple x 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, bu t the cure rates are discouragingly low. Patient and methods: we repor t 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 aspir ation and biopsy) was performed Results: the biopsy of the oral lesion disclosed a malignant NHL; other examinations failed to find other fo ci of the lymphomatous process. Conclusions: this case of primitive NH L of the oral cavity summarises the main characteristics of this rathe r uncommon pathology: a) difficult diagnosis at presentation, often mi sdiagnosed 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.