Parotid mass as presenting symptom of lymphoma

Lymphomas arising from the parotid gland are an uncommon entity, said to account for only 0.6-5% of tumors or tumor-like lesions of the parotid, and are therefore commonly overlooked. This misdiagnosis often leads to unnecessary diagnostic procedures, delaying the initiation of proper treatment.

To examine the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and survival data of patients with this disease.

We retrospectively reviewed our experience with patients diagnosed and treated for parotid lymphoma in our medical center during the period 1998-2008.

The 13 patients in the series were aged 42-83. Twelve had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 1 had Hodgkin's lymphoma. In eight, parotid mass was the first manifestation of the disease, while in five who were in clinical remission its reoccurrence was first manifested in the parotid gland. Mean survival was 6.3 years

Since parotid lymphoma is uncommon, it is often overlooked in the differential diagnosis. Methods of diagnosing and treating parotid lymphoma are different from those of other parotid pathologies. A high index of suspicion is warranted in order to provide a quick and efficient diagnosis and treatment without subjecting the patient to unnecessary tests and procedures.