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Background: Benign lymphoepithelial lesions of the parotid include a spectrum of disorders ranging from lymphoepithelial sialadenitis (LESA) of Sjögren syndrome to lymphoepithelial cysts (LEC) and both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related and -unrelated cystic lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH). They share a common microscopic appearance characterized by epimyoepithelial islands and/or epithelial lined cysts in a lymphoid stroma. However, they differ greatly regarding their etiology, clinical presentation, and management., Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish specific immunophenotypic profiles for these diverse disease entities., Study Design: Four cases of HIV+ CLH, 5 cases of HIV- CLH, 3 cases of LESA of Sjögren syndrome, and 3 cases of sporadic LEC were quantitatively analyzed for distribution of lymphoreticular cell subpopulations, using antibodies against CD20, CD45RO, CD4, CD8, CD57, and CD68., Results: The cystic lesions in both the HIV+ and HIV- cases were microscopically analogous. However, a marked decrease in the interfollicular CD4:CD8 ratio was observed in all HIV+ CLH cases, which was statistically significant when compared with the HIV- cases (P = .02) and cases of LESA of Sjögren syndrome (P = .03). No significant differences regarding the distribution of CD20+ B lymphocytes in epithelial cyst lining or the interfollicular or follicular distribution of CD20+, CD45RO+, CD57+, and CD68+ cells were present among the different groups., Conclusion: Analysis of the interfollicular CD4:CD8 ratio may offer a simple immunophenotypic approach in the distinction of HIV+ from other lymphoepithelial lesions of the parotid gland, when HIV status is unknown and p24 immunohistochemistry is not readily available., (Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report the fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology findings that allowed us to diagnose cryptococcal parotitis in a 31-year-old HIV positive patient. The patient presented with painful and enlarged right parotid gland and a CT scan showed a cystic lesion with rim enhancement. The FNA cytology revealed yeasts of variable size, some of which had bright eosinophilic capsules in Diff-Quik stained preparations. Mucicarmine and silver stain supported the diagnosis of cryptococcal parotitis, which was later confirmed by fungal culture of the aspirated material. We thus show that fungal infection can present as a cystic parotid mass in an immunosuppressed patient and that the diagnosis can be made by FNA cytology., (2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc)

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is an autoimmune-like phenomenon resulting in morbidity and mortality following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Major salivary gland dysfunction and hyposalivation is one of the prevalent manifestations of cGVHD. We have used the B10.D2 to Balb/C cGVHD mice model in order to assess major salivary gland function in cGVHD, evaluating sialometric, sialochemical and histopathological parameters for almost 3 months. As cGVHD is a chronic debilitating disease it is of vast importance to evaluate these parameters on a prolonged longitudinal basis. We observed significant reduction in parotid salivary flow rate and disturbance in the salivary dynamic function in cGVHD mice in comparison to the normal and syngeneic transplanted controls. On days 18, 25, 46, 56 and 88 the mean flow rates of the cGVHD group were 37.4 +/- 4.4 microl/30 min, 40.5 +/- 4.6 microl/30 min, 32.5 +/- 2.3 microl/30 min, 22.2 +/- 3.2 microl/30 min and 14.8 +/- 3.8 microl/30 min, respectively, values which were lower than those of the syngeneic transplanted controls group by 42% (P < 0.04), 32% (P < 0.03), 44% (P < 0.01), 49% (P < 0.01) and 64% (P < 0.01), respectively. These changes in flow rates were paralleled by changes in the biochemical composition of the saliva. Moreover, the reduction in flow rates correlated with the degree of salivary gland destruction observed in the pathological slides. An inverse correlation was observed between the mean parotid salivary flow rate and the degree of fibrosis observed in the histopathological evaluation of the cGVHD mice (P < 0.01). Maximal flow rate 34.8 +/- 4.6 microl/30 min was observed when no fibrosis was observed while in mice with maximal fibrosis flow rates were minimal. This may point to the pathological mechanism leading to the major salivary gland dysfunction and hyposalivation observed in cGVHD. Thus, it may broaden our knowledge and provide the scientific background for designing better therapeutic strategies for this complication. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000).

Cystic lymphoepithelial lesion is an infrequent disorder involving the saliva glands mainly the parotid gland; however, its frequency has increased coinciding with the epidemics of HIV-1 infection. Three cases of parotid lymphoepithelial lesion in patients with HIV-1 infection, 2 of whom were hemophiliacs and one an ex-intravenous drug addict, are presented. In all the cases the lesion was a painless slow growth right submandibular mass, with no history of inflammation. Two of the patients had a contralateral tumor of the same characteristics which was not studied. Fine needle aspiration puncture was performed in the three patients although diagnosis was obtained by pathologic study following superficial parotidectomy. Cystic lymphoepithelial lesion is an entity to be taken into account on differential diagnosis of cervical masses in patients with HIV infection. In individuals with severe immunosuppression treatment should be conservative.

Pneumoparotid is an unusual condition resulting from air being forced into the parotid ductal system. When it develops, it is a result of increased intraoral air pressure. Diagnosis is based on the etiologic factor, palpatory evidence of tissue emphysema, the escape of frothy saliva from the involved duct, and the sialographic finding of retained ductal air and ductal infection.

A vivid example of parotid sialolithiasis diagnosed with an anterior-posterior radiograph and subsequently followed with a superficial parotidectomy is presented. The case presentation is preceded and followed by a discussion of the pathogenesis and treatment of such an abnormality.

Nonneoplastic disorders of the parotid gland, such as chronic recurrent parotitis, asymptomatic gland enlargement, or salivary fistulae, are therapeutic problems. Surgical removal of the gland is often difficult, since scar tissue may be present in these benign diseases. Therefore, alternative treatment methods, such as ligation of Stensen's duct, irradiation, or tympanic neurectomy, have been used to induce atrophy of gland parenchyma. This goal can also be attained by intraluminal duct occlusion, which involves instillation of a resorbable protein solution into the duct system, a procedure similar to sialographic injection. Intraluminal duct occlusion is a simple technique with rapid onset of atrophy and low morbidity, and with its use options remain open for other treatment modalities. The authors have used this method in the treatment of various diseases in 26 parotid glands and one submandibular gland. Their experience, which includes three-year patient follow-up data, suggests that this technique may be a useful alternative to salivary gland resection in certain nonneoplastic diseases.

Involvement of the parotid gland with sarcoidosis occurs in 1-6% of the patients. In rare cases parotitis represents the initial clinical manifestation of sarcoidosis. In that case, the otorhinolaryngologist is usually the first to be confronted with this disease and may enable an early diagnosis and therapy. In the present paper a rare case of isolated sarcoidosis of the parotid gland is reported. The results obtained by different examination techniques are demonstrated and their relevance for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is discussed.

A 25-year retrospective study of 63 pediatric surgical cases of benign parotid disease was done. Inflammatory disorders accounted for 34 of the cases. The remaining 29 non-inflammatory conditions included vasoformative, solid, and cystic lesions and were nearly always asymptomatic.