Xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis clinically mimicking a malignancy: case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 389 - 392
• Main Authors: Türkmen, Ilknur, Başsüllü, Nuray, Aslan, Ismet, Çomunoğlu, Cem, Doğusoy, Gülen Bülbül
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenolymphoma - diagnosis; Biopsy, Fine-Needle - methods; Case Report; Dentistry; Diagnosis, Differential; Eosinophils - pathology; Foam Cells - pathology; Giant Cells - pathology; Granuloma - diagnosis; Humans; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neutrophils - pathology; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Parotid Diseases - diagnosis; Parotid Neoplasms - diagnosis; Plasma Cells - pathology; Sialadenitis - diagnosis; Xanthomatosis - diagnosis; Neoplasm; Xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis; Warthin's tumor; Parotid neoplasms
• ISSN: 1865-1550; 1865-1569
• DOI: 10.1007/s10006-011-0307-4

Background Xanthogranulomatous tissue reaction is a well-documented process that is most common in kidney. There are other uncommon sites being documented as case reports in the literature. We would like to describe the clinicopathologic findings in a case of xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis that involved the parotid gland, which was clinically thought to be a tumoral mass, and compare it with the 4 previously reported cases. Case report A 52-year-old man presented with a left parotid mass. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was consistent with Warthin's tumor. The mass lesion was excised. Discussion The lesion measured 2.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm. Microscopic examination revealed sheets of foamy macrophages centrally admixed with neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and scattered giant cells indicating a xanthogranulomatous reaction. As a conclusion xanthogranulomatous tissue reaction can mimic neoplasms.