Multifocal nature of adenolymphoma of the parotid

The multifocal nature of adenolymphoma of the parotid salivary gland was studied in 24 patients who underwent parotidectomy. Twenty-six resected specimens were examined by a step-serial whole-organ sectioning technique; multiple adenolymphoma was found in 13. The maximum number of synchronous tumours in any gland was four. Salivary epithelial elements were found embedded within lymph nodes in nine resected specimens. Synchronous or metachronous bilateral tumours were found in eight patients. The multifocal nature of adenolymphoma of the parotid gland is demonstrated.