Clinical diagnostic approach for oral lymphomas: a multi-institutional, observational study based on 107 cases

To evaluate oral lymphomas' clinical manifestations and investigate whether clinical features are associated with lymphoma subtypes.

Oral lymphomas with at least 1 representative clinical image were evaluated. They were classified according to their microscopic grade (high vs low), predominant cell size (small vs medium/large), and cellular lineage (B cell vs T cell). Clinical images were described according to tumor location, number, swelling, ulcer, necrosis, telangiectasia, predominant color, and lobulation. Lymphomas affecting the palate were compared with salivary gland tumors (SGTs) affecting this location.

Data from 107 cases were included. High-grade subtypes (80.4%), with medium/large-sized cells (52.3%), and diagnosed as diffuse large B cell lymphomas (29%) predominated. High-grade lymphomas often presented as painful, ulcerative, and osteolytic diseases (P < .05). Tumors predominantly composed of medium/large-sized cells were associated with painful lesions, ulcerated, with necrosis and bone destruction (P < .05). When only palate tumors were considered, multiple and bilateral lesions, the presence of pain, ulceration, and necrosis were significantly more associated with a diagnosis of lymphoma than SGT (P < .001).

High-grade oral lymphomas are more associated with destructive presentation than low-grade subtypes, and bilateral lesions in the palate are more associated with a lymphoma diagnosis than SGT.