Infarcted ('infected') adenolymphomas. A clinicopathological study of 20 cases

From a total of 323 adenolymphomas in the files of the British Salivary Gland Tumour Panel there were 20 cases (6.2%) which showed extensive necrosis, fibrosis and inflammation. The clinical and microscopical features of this distinctive subtype are described and it is suggested that infarction rather than infection is the more probable aetiological factor. In 40% of these infarcted adenolymphomas there was granuloma formation which mimicked tuberculosis or sarcoidosis and this possibility should be borne in mind when examining lesions in the parotid region.