Management of comorbid advanced stage gingival squamous cell carcinoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma by a combination of surgery and split ABVD chemotherapy

Comorbidity of gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is rare. Management of a head and neck SCC together with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has not yet been documented. A 74-year-old man presented with delayed healing after tooth extractions. Results of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed lymph node swelling in multiple areas. Biopsy from the neck lymph node and the gingiva of the mandible pathologically confirmed CHL and SCC, respectively. Segmental resection of the mandible was planned prior to chemotherapy for CHL; however, the patient exhibited B symptoms and liver dysfunctions that required delay of the surgery. Surgery was rescheduled after a half cycle of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastin, and decarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy. Beginning 5 weeks postoperatively, six and a half cycles of ABVD chemotherapy were completed. Performing partial ABVD chemotherapy prior to surgery for gingival SCC was beneficial to control systemic complications associated with advanced stage CHL.