ROLE OF THE DENTAL SURGEON ON DIAGNOSIS OF LYMPHOMAS IN HIV PATIENTS: A RARE INTRAORAL ANAPLASTIC LARGE CELL LYMPHOMA

Abstract

Malignancies in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are well documented in the literature. Although the head and neck region is rarely involved, this can signal initial HIV infection or its worsening, and the dental surgeon is the main professional for intraoral diagnoses. Some are extremely rare tumors like anaplastic large cell lymphoma. In 2020, a 49-year-old male with a 4-month diagnosis of HIV infection presented with an ulcerated lesion on the retromolar region achieving the tonsillar pillar with no malignancy on the first incisional biopsy. Because of its appearance, another biopsy was performed, confirming the anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma diagnosis, not hypothesized at first sight. The patient had a great response with chemotherapy and hematopoietic cell transplantation with total remission of the intraoral tumor. The early diagnosis of a rare high-morbidity tumor allowed a precocious treatment and recovery of the patient.