[Cystic parotid lesions in HIV infection].

The appearance of parotid lesions of cystic aspect with a HIV's infections has been described in the past by foreign Authors above all coming from USA and from Africa. Similar cases has been recorded in France but only among children. The Authors report a casuistry constituted by five male sex's and white race's subjects, everyone HIV positive, suffering from mono or bilateral benign lymphoepithelial cysts. Every patient under examination presented a positive history because of the use of intravenous drug. Four of the five subjects underwent a surgical treatment of parotidectomy. Echotomography, CT and RM scanning seem to be the more sensitive diagnostic techniques. The peculiar histopathologic aspects allow us to differentiate these lesions both from the classical benign lymphoepithelial cysts and from the Warthin's tumor. The increase of the signalling of these cases seems to be connected with the progressive diffusion of the infection and with major survival of the patients thanks to chemotherapy. The majority of the Authors is agreed to recommend the surgical treatment for the possible malignant degeneration of this kind of forms. A careful clinical and diagnostic analysis of every patient with parotid swelling, above all if at risk for HIV's infection, is strictly necessary.