title: Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the gingiva initially misdiagnosed as dental abscess.
abstract: Oral non-Hodgkin lymphomas are uncommon, and those arising on the gingiva are rare. A case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the gingiva that was erroneously diagnosed and treated as a dental abscess is presented. Clinical examination showed a firm and ulcerated mass extending from the mandibular right first premolar region to the retromolar trigone. Resorption of the alveolar ridge was radiographically observed. Histologic analysis revealed a large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. No other evidence of the disease was found except in the mandible. The patient was treated with chemotherapy that resulted in complete regression. As primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the gingiva can be misdiagnosed as a trivial inflammatory lesion, a histologic examination should be mandatory in those cases in which symptoms do not subside after specific treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Diseases, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. carla.martinelli@hispeed.ch
authors.forename: Carla Patrícia
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Martinelli-Kläy
authors.forename: Celso Ricardo
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: José Benedito
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Teresa Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Cheade
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000175:diagnosis; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014081:Tooth Extraction
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20