A Salivary Gland Lymphoma Involving Contralateral Parotid Gland and Submaxillary Gland with a Review of the Literature

A 75-year-old male was pointed out the right submandibular swelling followed by the left pre-auricular swelling, about half-year apart. Parenchyma of the left parotid gland was infiltrated by lymphoid growth, and the right submaxillary gland had a discrete lymphoid growth at a pole of the gland. Inside and outside these lymphoid growths, lymphocytes infiltrated between ducts, acini, adipose tissue, blood vessels and nerves. Patho-immunologically, the case was a follicular lymphoma of medium-sized (or small cleaved) cell type with no cytoplasmic immunoglobulin production, although a B-cell type of the malignant lymphoma was suggested because of a prominent nodular pattern. The patient has been in a complete remission for six months subsequent to chemotherapy. The major literature concerning malignant lymphoma primarily in parotid or submaxillary gland reported since 1959 was reviewed. The criteria for possible primary malignant lymphoma of the salivary gland, its pathogenesis and its differential diagnosis from other lymphoid and epithelial lesions were discussed.