Abnormal change on the tongue is a potential complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The exact pathogenesis remains unclear and several risk factors include chemoradiotherapy, infection, graft-versus-host disease, disease relapse, and secondary malignancy. Our case described a 42-year-old woman with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated by allo-HSCT 2 months later followed by a rare and atypical tongue neoplasia without oral pain, dysphagia, and dysgeusia. The biopsy was operated which showed granulation tissue with no evidence on typical graft-versus-host disease or malignancy, and no specific infection had been identified. Cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil, which were used for immunosuppression after allo-HSCT accompanying with the rapid growth of the tongue neoplasia, was then replaced by sirolimus. One month later, the patient underwent a complete remission unexpectedly.
Copyright © 2020 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.