Primary non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma of the tongue.

A 96-year-old woman was admitted with a mass in the tongue. Examination and imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) showed a mass (2cm×2cm×1.5cm) in the dorsal aspect of the tongue, which was biopsied. Histologically there was diffuse proliferation of large malignant lymphoid cells. Mitotic figures and apoptotic cells were scattered. Immunohistochemically, the atypical lymphoid cells stained for CD45, CD20, p53 protein, and KI-67 antigen (labelling=100%). In contrast, they did not stain for various cytokeratins, epithelial membrane antigen, CD3, CD30, CD45RO, or TdT. The pathological diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell carcinoma of the tongue. Systemic imaging studies showed no other tumours. There was no lymphadenopathy. The patient was given R-CHOP chemotherapy and radiation and the tumour disappeared. She is still free of symptoms 5 years after her initial presentation.