Benign cysts of the parotid gland

Benign cysts of the parotid gland are not frequently diagnosed. They occur in any portion of the parotid gland and may be difficult to diagnose. They present with considerable histological variation in their linings. Three cases are presented of unilocular benign cystic lesions of the parotid gland that have been treated by superficial parotidectomy. Two of them were lined by a single or pseudostratified layer of cuboidal epithelium and were diagnosed as retention cysts. The third was a lympho-epithelial cyst and was lined by stratified squamous and partially by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. A review of the relevant literature is also presented.