Lymphoma of the Base of the Tongue: An Incidental Finding on the Preoperative Workup for a Spine Surgery

Abstract

Lymphoma of the tongue is very rare and accounts for 1% of all malignant tumors of the oral cavity. We present a patient who presented with weakness and difficulties with ambulation who was a known cervical spine spondylosis and stenosis patient. During the preoperative workup for cervical spine surgery a tumor at the base of the tongue was discovered which was confirmed by pathology to be a lymphoma.KeywordsLymphoma; Tongue; Spine surgery; Preoperative workup