First Comprehensive Characterization of Lip Lymphoma: A Population-Based Study.

INTRODUCTION

Lip lymphoma is an exceptionally rare extranodal lymphoma with limited data to guide clinical management. We conducted the first large-scale population-based analysis to characterize its epidemiology, treatment patterns, and outcomes.

METHODS

We identified all lip lymphoma cases (2000-2022) from the SEER database (17 registries). Patients were categorized as localized primary lip lymphoma (stage I) or lymphoma involving the lip area (stages II-IV).

RESULTS

Among 82 patients (median age 62 years, 54.9% female), age-adjusted incidence was 0.0459 per million per year. MALT lymphoma predominated (46.3%). With the median follow-up of 74.5 months, 21 deaths (25.6%) occurred, only 5 (6.1%) lymphoma related. Ten-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates were 72.7% and 92.6%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.115/year, p < 0.001) and non-low-grade histology (HR 3.251, p = 0.043) independently predicted survival. All lymphoma-related deaths occurred in patients with aggressive or unknown histologies, none in confirmed low-grade B-cell lymphomas. No treatment strategy (surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic treatment) showed a significant superiority in terms of survival.

CONCLUSION

Lip lymphoma demonstrates excellent prognosis, particularly for low-grade B-cell histologies. Age and histological grade represent principal prognostic factors guiding treatment strategies.