Primary manifestation of HIV-related Burkitt lymphoma in the oral and maxillofacial regions

BACKGROUND:Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is strongly associated with HIV infection and has a highly aggressive clinical course. The involvement of the maxillofacial region in BL has rarely been reported. CASE DESCRIPTION:A 36-year-old woman with HIV-positive status had painless bilateral swelling of the oral mucosa and middle and lower thirds of the face. Microscopic analysis of the oral lesion revealed an atypical lymphoid infiltrate with a starry sky pattern. The lymphoid cells expressed cluster of differentiation 20, cluster of differentiation 10, B-cell lymphoma 6, and c-Myc; the Ki-67 proliferative index was high. The tumor cells were positive for Epstein-Barr virus. These results led to the diagnosis of HIV-related BL. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS:BL and other immunodeficiency-related lymphoproliferative malignancies may affect the oral and maxillofacial regions and should be included in the differential diagnosis of rapidly expanding swelling in young patients.