SCLEROSING POLYCYSTIC SIALADENOPATHY

Tumour-like lesions of the salivary glands are diseases which, in acco rdance with the new WHO classification of salivary gland tumours, can simulate a true tumour by swelling or induration of the salivary gland tissue. An additional rare entity, only recently not described in the new WHO classification, is,,sclerosing polycystic sialadenopathy'' (s .p.s.) which, especially in younger patients, results in nodular, inco mpletely encapsulated,tumour-like masses mainly of the parotid gland. Histologically, it is comparable to fibrocystic mastopathy and is char acterized by distinct hyalinized, centrally accentuated sclerosing col lageneous tissue with inclusion of cystically ectatic ducts and focal epithelial hyperplasia. In the hyperplastic ducts, transluminal bridge s and cribriform patterns can develop, sometimes also apocrine secreti on and eosinophilic globules. The s.p.s. must be distinguished mainly from cystadenoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and also from dysgenetic cy stic parotid gland. Based on four of our own observations the differen tial diagnosis is analysed.