Page 78 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

ORAL MANIFESTATION OF LYMPHOMA: A SERIES OF 4 CASES

Ibrahim NAF, Wan Hasamudin MAF, Omar AN, Al-Idrus SM

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system which is a part of the body’s defence
mechanism, particularly lymphocytes. This type of malignancy happens when disease-
fighting white blood cells undergo mutation that can cause rapid proliferation of
abnormal white blood cells. Lymphoma is mainly categorized into two forms: Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Treatment modalities for lymphoma are
chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant or a
combination. Lymphoma can present with multiple signs and symptoms. Oral cavity
lymphomas are the third most common malignancy in the oral cavity, after squamous cell
carcinoma and malignancies of the salivary glands. However, they are rare and only
comprise 3% of all lymphomas in the general population and 4% occur in patients with
AIDS. Oral lymphomas are often difficult to diagnose because their clinical presentation
may mimic other diseases such as periodontal disease, odontogenic infection,
osteomyelitis, oral ulceration and other malignancies. Histopathological examination
often requires special staining which may take time to confirm the diagnosis. This may
lead to delay in providing the correct treatment, hence worsening the prognosis. Here,
we present 4 cases of oral cavity lymphomas in order to alert the medical and dental
community to the possible differential diagnosis to consider when faced with such lesions.

th
Oral presentation at the 25 Annual General Scientific Meeting 2021 MAOMS on 20 March 2021

Dr Nur Athirah Farzana Ibrahim
Dr Aezy Noorazah Omar
Dr Muhammad Amir Firdaus Wan Hasamudin,
Dr Sharifah Munirah Al-Idrus
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Hospital Kajang, Selangor

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