Primary T cell lymphoma of salivary gland: a report of a case and review of the literature.
Lymphoma of the salivary gland accounts for 5% of cases of extranodal lymphoma and 10% of malignant salivary gland tumours. Most primary salivary gland lymphomas are B marginal zone lymphomas arising on a background of sialadenitis associated with autoimmune disorders such as Sjorgen's syndrome. Primary T cell lymphoma of the salivary gland is rare. This report describes a case of primary T cell lymphoma arising in the parotid gland of an elderly white man, which was notable for its striking resemblance to a B cell extranodal marginal zone lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry and gene rearrangement studies confirmed the clonal T cell nature of the tumour. There was no molecular evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of neoplastic or surroundings cells. Only 14 cases of primary T cell lymphoma of the salivary glands have been recorded in the literature, most being from the Orient and having extremely variable prognosis. Those with a T/natural killer cell phenotype are associated with EBV infection. This case highlights the fact that T cell lymphoma in the salivary gland can mimic closely the morphological features of B cell extranodal marginal zone lymphoma.
Hew
W S R
WS
Department of Pathology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. roger.w.hew@tuht.scot.nhs.uk
Carey
F A
FA
Kernohan
N M
NM
Heppleston
A D
AD
Jackson
R
R
Jarrett
R F
RF
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*