Spontaneous regression of extranodal malignant lymphoma occurred in the gingiva

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 323 - 324
• Main Authors: Koga, Makoto, Kusukawa, Jingo, Hayabuchi, Naofumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gingiva; Gingival Neoplasms - pathology; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, B-Cell - pathology; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - pathology; Malignant lymphoma; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; Oral cavity; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Spontaneous regression; Tumors; Oral cavity; Malignant lymphoma; Spontaneous regression; Gingiva; Biopsy; Human; Prognosis; Stomatology; Spontaneous; Regression; Malignant hemopathy; Radiotherapy; Case study; Pathology; Extraganglionar; Periodontal disease; Histopathology; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Female; Diagnosis; Elderly
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/S1368-8375(02)00122-7

The spontaneous regression of malignant neoplasm is an extremely rare event. Here we report a case of extranodal malignant lymphoma occurring in the upper gingiva, which regressed spontaneously. A 78-year-old female had noticed a diffuse bucco-lingual swelling of the left maxillary gingiva in the incisor regions for a month, and she visited our department on 20 January 1999. Intraoral examination revealed diffuse swelling and redness in the maxillary gingiva of the incisor regions. Cervical and underarm lymphadenopahy was not detected. Surgical biopsy of the swollen gingiva revealed a malignant lymphoma, with diffuse large cells, B cell type. She was clinically staged as IE. After biopsy, the tumor spontaneously decreased in size; finally, the mass completely disappeared after 3 weeks. After regression, the lesions were externally irradiated with 30 Gy total dose. The patient has been free from disease for 36 months after regression.