Benign lymphoepithelial lesion with large cysts: case report

A case of benign lymphoepithelial lesion with two large cysts and many foci of duct dilatation is reported. Clinical features, except for absence of dry eyes, indicated the case was Sjögren's syndrome. The cysts were found in the left parotid gland of a 60-yr-old woman and were surgically removed. The size of each cyst was 20 mm in diameter and one of them was located in the lymph node. Because of the HLA-DR expression by the epithelium, the cysts are considered to have formed as a result of duct dilatation due to autoimmune response. As for one cyst, it is also possible that the pre-existing lymphoepithelial cyst might be involved in the autoimmune phenomenon because of its relation to the lymph node.