Abstract
Sixty cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) originating in the oral cavity and maxillofacial lymph nodes were investigated concerning clinicopathological features. The incidence of extranodal oral NHL (56.7%) was slightly greater than that of maxillofacial nodal NHL (43.3%). Histopathologically, all of the extranodal oral NHL showed diffuse pattern, and maxillofacial nodal NHL showed diffuse pattern in 21 cases and follicular pattern in 5 cases. Immunohistochemistry showed that T-cell lymphoma was 8.8% in the extranodal oral NHL and 15.4% in the maxillofacial nodal NHL. The 3-year survival for extranodal oral NHL (28.0%) is lower than that of maxillofacial nodal NHL (52.9%). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was found in 2 extranodal oral NK/T-cell lymphomas, 2 maxillofacial nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas and 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. All other cases were negative. These findings indicate that extranodal oral NHL is different from maxillofacial nodal NHL. There is an older age preponderance, a greater incidence of diffuse growth pattern, a higher T/B ratio, and a worse prognosis in the extranodal oral NHL.
