Primary diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the base of tongue: A rare entity

Primary lymphomas of the oral cavity are uncommon and of the tongue even rarer. It is more common in the masticatory mucosa than the lingual and buccal mucosa. We describe a 63 year old male who presented with dysphagia & change in voice. Computed tomography revealed a 4.8 × 3.7 cm mass localized to the base of tongue. He underwent biopsy and IHC studies & was diagnosed as having diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The patient was successfully treated with wide excision of the lesion and is undergoing chemotherapy now. Although oral lymphoma of tongue is very uncommon, it should always be considered in differential diagnosis of various benign and malignant lesions in this region. A proper clinical evaluation and histopathologic as well as immunohistochemical evaluation of biopsy specimen are required to establish the diagnosis and for further management. This is one of the few cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the base of tongue being reported from India.