Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the parotid gland

Since 1969 we have seen 17 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the parotid gland. Retrospective analysis of these patients reveals that the primary diagnosis was established in 14 patients by parotid surgery. In 10 (58.8%) cases there was a single focus of NHL in the parotid gland proven by extensive medical and radiological examinations. Histology showed that 14 (82.3%) of the tumors were low grade and 3 (17.7%) were high grade (Kiel classification). In 5 specimens myoepithelial sialadenitis was found in the parotid gland tissue. Six patients died within 1.5 years on average, 4 of them without evidence of disease. Four of the 7 patients alive have been followed for an average of 3.1 years without evidence of disease. Primary radiation of the parotid region in stage IE in cases of parotid gland NHL seems to be an effective therapy. NHL presenting in myoepithelial sialadenitis seems to be rare, but offers the opportunity of observing an organ specific malignant process.