Diffuse large B cell lymphoma originating from the maxillary sinus with skin metastases: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of malignant lymphoma (ML), accounting for 30%-40% of cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in adults. Primary paranasal sinus lymphoma is a rare presentation of extranodal NHL that accounts for only 0.17% of all lymphomas. ML from the maxillary sinus (MS) is a particularly rare presentation, and is thus often difficult to diagnose. We have reported the first known case of DLBCL originating from the MS with rapidly occurrent multiple skin metastasis. CASE SUMMARY: An 81-year-old Japanese man visited our hospital due to continuous pain for 12 d in the left maxillary nerve area. His medical history included splenectomy due to a traffic injury, an old right cerebral infarction from when he was 74-years-old, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A plain head computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 3 cm × 3.1 cm × 3 cm sized left MS. On day 25, left diplopia and ptosis occurred, and a follow-up CT on day 31 revealed the growth of the left MS mass. Based on an MS biopsy on day 50, we established a definitive diagnosis of DLBCL, non-germinal center B-cell-like originating from the left MS. The patient was admitted on day 62 due to rapid deterioration of his condition, and a plain CT scan revealed the further growth of the left MS mass, as well as multiple systemic metastasis, including of the skin. A skin biopsy on day 70 was found to be the same as that of the left MS mass. We notified the patient and his family of the disease, and they opted for palliative care, considering on his condition and age. The patient died on day 80. CONCLUSION: This case suggests the need for careful, detailed examination, and for careful follow-up, when encountering patients presenting with a mass.