Diagnosis and management of lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid gland.

ABSTRACT

Patients with either benign or malignant parotid neoplasm are candidates for surgery, but patients with benign lymphoepithelial lesions of the parotid gland or Sjögren's syndrome do not necessarily require surgical treatment. However, the diagnosis of benign lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid prior to surgery is challenging. In this case series, we retrospectively analyzed the records of 11 patients presented between January 2006 and August 2007, with a solitary parotid mass diagnosed post-operatively as benign lymphoepithelial lesion or Sjögren's syndrome. Our analysis suggested that findings from physical examination and CT and MRI scans in the absence of neoplastic cells on fine needle aspiration biopsy could be used to make the diagnosis of lymphoepithelial lesion preoperatively. In a prospective study from September 2007 to June 2008, using the lessons learned from the analysis of the previous 11 patients, we were able to diagnose all 6 cases of benign lymphoepithelial lesion or Sjögren's syndrome preoperatively.