Extranodal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of Base of Tongue – Diagnosis by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology

Waldeyer's ring is the primary site of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) involvement in approximately 5 to 10% of all lymphoma patients. Of all Waldeyer's ring NHLs, the tonsil is the most frequent site,followed by the nasopharynx. Lymphomas arising from base of the tongue are less frequent, accounting for 7% of all primary Waldeyer's ring NHLs. The possible differential diagnosisincludes Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), which is the most common malignancy of the tongue base, salivary gland malignancy, (adenoid cystic carcinoma or mucoepidermoidcarcinoma) and infection processes, such as tuberculosis. Here we present a case of 43 year old male presenting with mass lesion of the base of tongue and odynophagia. The diagnosis was initially made by ne needle aspiration of this lesion. Subsequent imaging investigations revealed a lobulated mass inltrating bowel loop in the right iliac fossa. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry tests for both lesions conrmed extra-nodal, primary NHL Bcell diffuse, large cell type.