DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA IN THE UPPER LIP: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are uncommon in the mouth; however, they are the commonest type of non-Hodgkin lymphomas at this site. Preferentially, they affect tonsils and their occurrence in the upper lip is rare. This work reports a case of DLBCL arising in the left upper lip of a 73-year-old white woman that was recently diagnosed as having advanced breast cancer besides being a carrier of Parkinson and Alzheimer diseases. The mucosal surface of the upper lip displayed a solitary, fast-growing, painful, ulcerated, reddish, and sessile 4-cm-sized swelling without cervical lymph node involvement at presentation. After incisional biopsy, the microscopic analysis showed a lymphoid cell malignant neoplasm presenting great amounts of large-to-medium–sized cells resembling centroblasts losing cell cohesion. Immunohistochemical profile was intensely positive for CD20 and Ki-67, diffusely positive for CD3, and negative for pan-cytokeratins. Unfortunately, the patient died 2 weeks after our clinical care before receiving her final diagnosis. Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are uncommon in the mouth; however, they are the commonest type of non-Hodgkin lymphomas at this site. Preferentially, they affect tonsils and their occurrence in the upper lip is rare. This work reports a case of DLBCL arising in the left upper lip of a 73-year-old white woman that was recently diagnosed as having advanced breast cancer besides being a carrier of Parkinson and Alzheimer diseases. The mucosal surface of the upper lip displayed a solitary, fast-growing, painful, ulcerated, reddish, and sessile 4-cm-sized swelling without cervical lymph node involvement at presentation. After incisional biopsy, the microscopic analysis showed a lymphoid cell malignant neoplasm presenting great amounts of large-to-medium–sized cells resembling centroblasts losing cell cohesion. Immunohistochemical profile was intensely positive for CD20 and Ki-67, diffusely positive for CD3, and negative for pan-cytokeratins. Unfortunately, the patient died 2 weeks after our clinical care before receiving her final diagnosis.