Xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis clinically mimicking a malignancy: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Xanthogranulomatous tissue reaction is a well-documented process that is most common in kidney. There are other uncommon sites being documented as case reports in the literature. We would like to describe the clinicopathologic findings in a case of xanthogranulomatous sialadenitis that involved the parotid gland, which was clinically thought to be a tumoral mass, and compare it with the 4 previously reported cases. CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old man presented with a left parotid mass. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was consistent with Warthin's tumor. The mass lesion was excised. DISCUSSION: The lesion measured 2.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm. Microscopic examination revealed sheets of foamy macrophages centrally admixed with neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and scattered giant cells indicating a xanthogranulomatous reaction. As a conclusion xanthogranulomatous tissue reaction can mimic neoplasms.