Five patients (1 male and 4 female) with ages ranging from 18 to 54 years (mean age of 33.8) were diagnosed with lymphoepithelial cysts of the parotid gland in two maxillofacial centers in Nigeria over a 5-year period. All patients presented with bilateral parotid gland swellings with durations ranging from 6 months to 2 years. Swelling started in one gland in all of the patients a few months before the other gland became involved. All patients presented in the hospital because of aesthetic concerns (Figure 1). None reported with pain. The lesions were cystic in consistency in 4 of the 5 patients. In the fifth patient, the lesion was firm.
Figure 1. Bilateral parotid gland swelling in HIV infection.
Table 1 summarizes the clinical features of the patients. Laboratory investigations revealed three out of the five patients were positive for HIV I and II, while two had HIV I. The histological sections of the parotid lesions showed a fibrous connective tissue stroma densely infiltrated by lymphocytes organized into follicles and germinal centers that surround islands of epithelial tissue (Figure 2). Also seen were some plasma cells and histiocytes.
Table 1. Clinical features
of patients.
Number
Age
Gender
Presentation of Swelling
Duration (months)
Consistency
1
58
F
Bilateral
12
Cystic
2
18
M
Bilateral
6
Cystic
3
28
F
Bilateral
36
Cystic
4
23
F
Bilateral
12
Cystic
5
35
F
Unilateral
24
Firm
Figure 2. Fibrous connective tissue stroma with lymphocyte infiltration.
