[Spontaneous regression of MALT lymphoma of the hard palate accompanied by Sjögren syndrome].

A 46-year-old woman visited our hospital in January 1998 because of a painful palate mass. In the ten years previous to presenting, she noticed dryness of the mouth and occasionally had conjunctivitis. The pathological findings of the biopsy from the hard palate revealed that she had an extranodal marginal zone B cell type lymphoma (MALT type). Results of the Schirmer test, rose-bengal test and a gum test all supported the diagnosis that she had also Sjögren syndrome. However, complete self-remission of the hard palate lymphoma was observed 4 months after the diagnosis, and no relapse has been seen in a follow-up of over 2.5 years. Watch and wait should be emphasized for a patient having a palate MALToma at an early stage accompanied by Sjögren syndrome.