Benign lymphoepithelial lesion is a type of benign enlargement of the parotid and/or lacrimal glands. This pathologic state is sometimes, but not always, associated with Sjögren's Syndrome. Benign can refer to any medical condition which, untreated or with symptomatic therapy, will not become life-threatening. ... The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. ... Lacrimal apparatus of the right eye. ... Pathology (from Greek pathos, feeling, pain, suffering; and logos, study of; see also -ology) is the study of the processes underlying disease and other forms of illness, harmful abnormality, or dysfunction. ... Sjögrens syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the glands that produce tears and saliva. ...

Historically, bilateral parotid and lacrimal gland enlargement was characterized by the term Mikulicz's disease if the enlargement appeared apart from other diseases. If it was secondary to another disease, such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and Sjögren's Syndrome, the term used was Mikulicz's syndrome. Both names derive from Jan Mikulicz-Radecki, the Polish surgeon best known for describing these conditions. Today, the terms "Mikulicz's disease" and "Mikulicz's syndrome" are viewed as ambiguous and outdated. A gland is an organ in an animals body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... Lymphoma is a variety of cancer that originates in lymphocytes or, more rarely, of histiocytes. ... Jan Mikulicz-Radecki (born May 16, 1850 - June 4, 1905) was a Polish surgeon. ... A cardiothoracic surgeon performs a mitral valve replacement at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. ...

Locations

Occurring in 80% of cases, the gland most likely to be affected is the parotid gland. Lacrimal glands are also affected.

Characteristic

Benign lymphoepithelial lesion is most likely to occur in adults around 50 years of age. There is a predilection for gender with 60% - 80% being female. The gland affected has a diffuse swelling. The swelling can be asymptomatic, but mild pain can also be associated. A young woman who is 18 years old. ... The hand mirror and comb of the Roman Goddess Venus is often used to represent the female sex. ... In medicine, a disease is asymptomatic when it is at a stage where the patient does not experience symptoms. ... Look up Pain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Most cases of benign lymphoepithelial lesions appear in conjunction with Sjögren's Syndrome. When Sjögren's Syndrome is present, the swelling is usually bilateral. Otherwise, the affected glands are usually only on one side of the body. The elaborate patterns on the wings of butterflies are one example of biological symmetry. ...

In most caess, a biopsy is needed to distinguish benign lymphoepithelial lesions from sialadenosis (sialosis). A biopsy (in Greek: bios = life and opsy = look/appearance) is a medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues for examination. ...

Histology

The appearance of this tumor microscopically has an intense lymphocytic infiltrate. Germinal center formation may or may not occur. Salivary acini are destroyed, leaving only the ductal epithelium. Due to the hyperplasia (overgrowth) of the ductal cells and surrounding myoepithelial cells, epimyoepithelial islands appear and are the characteristic feature of benign lymphoepithelial lesion. A microscope (Greek: (micron) = small + (skopein) = to look at) is an instrument for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by the naked or unaided eye. ... A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell involved in the human bodys immune system. ... Types of epithelium This article discusses the epithelium, an animal anatomical structure. ... Hyperplasia (or hypergenesis) is a general term for an increase in the number of the cells of an organ or tissue causing it to increase in size. ... A myoepithelial cell (myoepithelium) is a type of epithelium which has some characteristics of muscle tissue. ...

Treatment

Treatment usually consists of surgical removal of the affected gland. Prognosis is usually good. Nonetheless, there is a rare but malignant version, called malignant lymphoepithelial lesion (lymphoepithelial carcinoma), which may develop. In medicine, malignant is a clinical term that is used to describe a clinical course that progresses rapidly to death. ...

References

• Kahn, Michael A. Basic Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Volume 1. 2001.

External links

• synd/2087 at Who Named It - "Mikulicz's disease"
• MeSH Mikulicz'+Disease
• K11.8 - ICD10
• Lee S, Tsirbas A, McCann J, Goldberg R (2006). "Mikulicz's disease: a new perspective and literature review.". Eur J Ophthalmol 16 (2): 199-203. PMID 16703534.
• Ihrler S, Harrison J (2005). "Mikulicz's disease and Mikulicz's syndrome: analysis of the original case report of 1892 in the light of current knowledge identifies a MALT lymphoma.". Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 100 (3): 334-9. PMID 16122662.