title: Benign lymphoepithelial parotid lesions in vertically HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Benign lymphoepithelial parotid lesions (BLL) are frequently reported in HIV-infected patients, although their clinical and prognostic significance in HIV infection has not been clearly defined. Ultrasonography (USG) has been shown to be a reliable method in monitoring the progression of such lesions. The purpose of this study was to describe the spectrum of sonographic and Doppler findings and to monitor any clinically evident physical change of parotid glands in a cohort of congenitally HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy. USG findings-based on their severity-have been grouped in three different patterns (0, 1, 2). Our cohort consisted of 51 patients with HIV in various Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stages and being given different antiretroviral protocols. The median USG follow-up was 36 months. The most frequent USG pattern was aspecific parotid gland enlargement (type 0, 45,1%). Patients with either lower CD4+ % (p < 0.20) and higher absolute and percent CD8+ cell count (p < 0.001 and p < 0.003) presented more frequently a type 2 USG pattern. None of them had any symptoms ascribed to "sicca syndrome" and only one patient developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during the follow-up, although his USG pattern at baseline was type 0. In summary, the spectrum of USG findings of BLL in vertically HIV-infected patients is broad. Because of the reported, although rare, possible malignant transformation of BLL in HIV-infected children, it is advisable to perform-even in asymptomatic patients-USG at least once per year or in concomitance with any physical modification of the parotid lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, DICMI, University of Genoa, San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy. RaffaellaRosso@unige.it
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pretolesi
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: del Bono
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buscaglia
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: Sara Tita
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Farinella
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Biagio
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bassetti
authors.forename: Lorenzo E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Derchi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viscoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler