Nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma of the parotid gland: a case report

The parotid is the most frequent site of primary salivary gland tumors. Lymphomas represent 0.2 to 0.8% of all malignant parotid tumors. Primary Hodgkin lymphoma of the parotid gland is rare with few cases reported in literature. The nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is considered a particular clinical and histopathological subtype of HL. It has never been reported in the parotid gland since its incorporation in the 2001 World Health Organization Classification. The authors describe a case of a 32-year-old male who sought medical attention because of a one-year history of right cheek enlargement. A parotid nodule was submitted to a fine needle aspiration biopsy which disclosed a suspected lymphoproliferative disorder. A surgical dissection of the parotid gland was performed and an enlarged intraparotid lymph node measuring 4cm in its longest axis was excised, preserving the parotid gland integrity as well as the facial nerve. The pathological examination disclosed the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma in this lymph node within the parotid gland. The treatment was completed with local radiotherapy and the 5-year follow up was uneventful.