Primary extranodal T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the tongue

The most common sites of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are the gastrointestinal tract and the head and neck region. Head and neck involvement accounts for 8 to 13% of all extranodal lymphomas. Primary NHLs of the oral cavity, especially in the tongue, are extremely rare, which makes it difficult to understand their biologic behavior. Extranodal NHLs of the tongue usually present as a nodular lesion of the B-cell type. The T-cell variant of tongue NHL with an ulcerated exophytic presentation is extremely rare. We report such a case in a 37-year-old woman.