title: Malignant lymphomas in the head and neck region--a retrospective, single-center study over 41 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are malignant neoplastic proliferations of the immune system that can manifest as nodal or extranodal lymphomas. The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the site of occurrence of lymphomas in the head and neck area and to analyze the typical symptoms of patients who presented at an oral and maxillofacial surgical department.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patient files from 1971 until 2012 from an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a University were analyzed for the diagnosis non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Epidemiologic data and data regarding the localization of the malignant lymphoma were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  62 patients, 34 women and 28 men with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the head and neck area were treated in the 41 years analyzed. In 87% of the cases the lymphoma belonged to B-cell and in 12% to the T-cell lineage. The average age at the time of diagnosis was 67 years for women (n=34) and 56 years for men. With 22 patients each, the non-Hodgkin lymphoma was localized in either the soft tissues or osseous structures. In the remaining 18 cases, multiple structures were affected. In 33 patients no accompanying nodal manifestation was noticed. In 33 cases the lymphoma was located in the oral cavity. The most common symptoms were swelling (97%), pain (40%) and the existence of an ulcer (11%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study more than 50% of the lymphomas were located in the oral cavity. Due to the unspecific symptoms, a histopathological verification of the diagnosis is crucial.
authors.affiliation: 1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Plastic Surgery of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: 1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Plastic Surgery of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziebart
authors.affiliation: 1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Plastic Surgery of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sagheb
authors.affiliation: 1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Plastic Surgery of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Roman Kia
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Nedjat
authors.affiliation: 1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Plastic Surgery of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Asina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manz
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: head and neck; lymphoma; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; oral