Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the maxilla mimicking a dentoalveorar abscess. Case report

Lymphomas, although rare, constitute the third most common malignancy of the oral cavity, following squamous cell carcinoma and salivary gland adenocarcinomas. Most oral lymphomas are Non-Hodgkin and derive from B-lymphocytes. They usually appear as soft tissue masses of the palate or gingiva. Sometimes they mimic common oral diseases such as inflammatory or reactive lesions and therefore pose a challenge to proper and timely diagnosis. A case of a follicular Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, appearing as a swelling of the maxilla, initially considered to be of inflammatory/infectious cause is presented. The patient had already undergone antibiotic therapy and extraction of the adjacent tooth without resolution of the lesion, at the time an incisional biopsy was decided. The clinician needs to always maintain a high index of suspicion when coming across diffuse swellings that despite the fact that they resemble common pathoses, do not respond to conventional therapy or appear unusual in some way.