Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the oral cavity representing progressive transformation of germinal center

APMIS. 2005 Mar;113(3):221-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2005.apm1130311.x.

Abstract

Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia (FLH) of the oral cavity is a rare and poorly understood lymphoproliferative disorder. We present a case of FLH of the oral cavity presenting with progressive transformation of germinal center (PTGC). The patient was a 49-year-old Japanese woman presenting with a hard mass in the right cheek. The resected specimen contained numerous lymphoid follicles with active germinal centers and a portion of the lymphoid follicles exhibited PTGC. The PTGCs contained a few large lymphoid cells resembling lymphocytic and histiocytic Reed-Sternberg cells of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. The PTGC was surrounded by groups of epithelioid cells. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated strong expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNA in scattered large lymphoid cells in the PTGC. Although the etiology of FLH of the oral cavity remains unclear, the present case suggests that a subset of FLH of the oral cavity appears to be an EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Viral*
  • Female
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Germinal Center / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymph Nodes / virology
  • Lymphocytes / virology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / virology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Diseases / pathology
  • Mouth Diseases / virology*
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Viral