Fine-needle aspiration cytology of lymphangioma of the parotid gland in anadult

Lymphangioma or cystic hygroma is an uncommon benign congenital tumor of ly mphatics that is seen in children and, rarely, adults. Lymphangioma primari ly involving the parotid gland is an extremely uncommon occurrence in adult s. We report on the cytologic findings of a parotid lymphangioma in a 34-yr -old man which showed 13 cc of yellow fluid with red blood cells, lymphocyt es, and rare fragments of benign-appearing salivary gland epithelium. The d ifferential diagnosis of cystic parotid gland lesions in adults may include Warthin's tumor, lymphoma, benign lymphoepithelial lesions, branchial clef t cysts, chronic sialadenitis, cystic low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, a nd cystic pleomorphic adenoma. In this case, the fine-needle aspiration fin dings along with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of a multilo culated cystic mass in the parotid gland allowed the diagnosis of lymphangi oma. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.