Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Lymphoma is a malignant proliferation of lymphoid cells. External T-cell lymphoma is very rare. Lymphomas are neoplastic growth of lymphocytes caused by organisms like EBV, HIV, etc. This malignancy is classified as Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Oral lymphomas account for a small percentage of head and neck malignancies, and intraoral lymphoma is rare and mostly seen in Waldeyer's ring of immunocompromised patients.
Case presentation: A 67-year-old female was referred with a palatal wound that developed within two months. In medical history, she had a peptic ulcer since last year, and intestine lymphoma was diagnosed 4 months later. After that, her gastrointestinal lymphoma was treated with surgery and chemotherapy for 6 sessions. The oral examination revealed an endophytic ulcer with a granular surface in the left posterior part of the hard and soft palate and maxillary alveolar ridge. The lesion was under biopsy with clinical differential diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma or metastatic lymphoma or deep fungal infection. Microscopic examination with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed malignant mononucleated lymphocytes and hyperchromatic, polymorphic, dysplastic cells. Also, acinic cells and muscular cells were destructed. Moreover, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was positive for CD3, showing the presence of T lymphocytes. Therefore, diagnosis of metastasis of intestinal T-cell lymphoma to oral cavity was established. Because the patient had a history of intestinal lymphoma, she was referred to the oncologist for treatment. In further examinations, lung and liver metastasis were detected and the patient died on the second session of chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Malignant metastases to the oral cavity can occur in various forms, including swelling and ulcer, periodontal lesion and tooth luxation. Since, metastatic lesions in the oral cavity, could imitate the feature of inflammatory lesions, a thorough examination and taking history can be helpful in the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning to increase patients’ survival.