Burkitt's lymphoma in a patient presenting with inferior alveolar nerve hypoesthesia in the absence of a regional tumor: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Burkitt's lymphoma is a malignant lymphoma of high malignancy grade and accounts for less than 1% of all cases of malignant lymphoma. Patients with malignant lymphoma in the oral and maxillofacial region including Burkitt's lymphoma, frequently present with gingival swelling, or a tumor mass/ulcers as the initial symptoms. We present an extremely rare case with bilateral mental nerve paralysis as the initial symptom without not only regional tumor but also brain and nose-pharyngeal area. This report indicates that the unexplained oral abnormalities such as inferior alveolar nerve hypoesthesia must be considered, potentially prodromal symptoms of Burkitt's lymphoma.