Benign lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid gland in intravenous drug users

Fifteen partial parotid salivary gland resection specimens interpreted as benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLL) were accessioned by our surgical pathology service between January 1983 and December 1986. Twelve of the specimens were removed from 11 prison inmates referred to our hospital, a patient subgroup constituting the source of only 2% of surgical pathology specimens in general. All prison inmates with BLL had a history of intravenous drug use, had developed unexplained lymphadenopathy concurrently with the parotid gland enlargement, and had suspected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (serologically confirmed in two). Histopathologic features of the parotid gland specimens included atypical follicular hyperplasia and follicular involution, resembling lymph node changes of HIV infection. The clinical and pathologic findings in these cases suggest an association between HIV infection and BLL, and support a previously proposed mechanism for the development of BLL through progressive enlargement of intraparotid lymph nodes.