Self-healing CD30- T-clonal proliferation of the tongue: report of an extremely rare case

• Main Authors: Giacomo Setti, Eugenia Martella, Cristina Mancini, Paolo Vescovi, Cristina Magnoni, Pierantonio Bellini, Ilaria Giovannacci, Marco Meleti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-08-01
• Series: BMC Oral Health
• Subjects: Oral pathology; Oral medicine; Tugse; Lymphoma; CD30-
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-019-0875-5

Abstract Background The etiology of traumatic ulcerative granulomas with stromal eosinophilia (TUGSE) is not clear, traumatic irritation having advocated as the most likely cause. TUGSEs are typically self-limiting slow-healing lesions of the oral mucosa with unclear pathogenesis, commonly manifesting as a rapidly developing, long-lasting ulcer. Case presentation Here we report a controversial case of a self-healing lesion of the tongue in a 57 year-old woman. A clonal T-cell proliferation and CD30 negative immunohistochemical (IHC) profile could be documented. Discussion and conclusion In view of the very peculiar clinical and histological features, a retrospective diagnosis of a TUGSE with scarce eosinophilic infiltrate (possibly in regression), displaying CD30- T-clonal proliferation was eventually rendered. The patient did not report signs of recurrence after a 3-year follow-up period.