Benign lymphoepithelial parotid tumors in AIDS patients: CT and MR findings in nine cases.

Abstract

Benign lymphoepithelial parotid neoplasm with associated cervical adenopathy is a newly described head and neck manifestation of HIV infection, characterized previously as purely cystic masses on both CT and MR evaluations. The CT and MR findings in nine cases of surgically proved benign lymphoepithelial parotid lesions are presented. Five (56%) of the nine cases demonstrated masses that appeared other than cystic, reflecting a greater variety of radiologic appearances than previously reported. The majority of these cystic masses contained solid components and therefore could not be labeled as cysts; instead, they were considered to be benign lymphoepithelial parotid lesions. For patients with parotid gland enlargement, the lack of a characteristic CT/MR appearance of these lesions necessitates an evaluation of clinical history and a determination of whether cervical adenopathy is present in order to determine their underlying origin.