Mantle cell lymphoma presenting with a tumor of the hard palate

Abstract

We report a 71-year-old man with a disseminated disease of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). He initially noticed instability of the maxillary denture due to swelling of the hard palate. Combined positron-emission tomography and computed tomography demonstrated a marked accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in the palate. A biopsy of the palatine tumor disclosed diffuse infiltrates of lymphoid cells, which were positive for CD20 and cyclin D1. The peripheral blood contained lymphoma cells with the characteristic immunophenotype, and fluorescence in situ hybridization detected fusion signals indicative of t(11;14)(q13;q32). In a literature review we identified only three cases of MCL with palatine involvement to date.