Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of mandible: a case report

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are a group of neoplasms that originate from the cells of the lymphoreticular system. Forty percent of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas arise from extra nodal sites. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas detected primarily in the bone are quite rare, but among jaw lesions, they are more frequently present in the maxilla than in the mandible. There are no classical characteristic clinical features of lymphomas involving the jaw bones. Swelling, ulcer or discomfort may be present in the region of the lymphoma, or it may mimic a periapical pathology or a benign condition. Though non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have been reported in all age groups, they generally affect the elderly, particularly males. Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the bone can be effectively managed by chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. We report a case of a large B-cell lymphoma of the mandible, in which the patient presented with a diffuse swelling on the right body of the mandible. A subsequent biopsy and immunohistochemistry were instrumental in this diagnosis. After finding no metastasis to other sites, the patient was treated with chemotherapy. The swelling regressed completely following the chemotherapy regimen, with no sign of recurrence observed over the last eighteen months.