Plasmablastic lymphoma presenting as gingival growth in a HIV positive patient: A case report

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare variant of a diffuse B-cell lymphoma that is so named for its blastoid morphology and immunophenotype. It affects approximately 3% of all HIV patients. This report details a case of the plasmablastic lymphoma of the gingiva in a HIV positive patient. The tumor manifested as a large mass of the right lower alveolus, causing bony destruction and tooth mobility, clinically indicative of carcinoma. Histologic examination of the lesion revealed a lymphoid tumor with a high proliferation rate containing lymphoplasmacytoid cells that were reactive to the plasma cell marker CD138 with lambda chain restriction but not to CD20 or CD79a, consistent with plasmablastic lymphoma. Recognition of this entity is important, as it represents an HIV-associated malignancy that predominately involves the oral cavity, and may mimic Kaposi's sarcoma and has a poor prognosis.