Bilateral cystic parotid masses and a hypopharyngeal mass: a case report and review of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in the head and neck.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a low-grade B-cell lymphoma that was first described in gastric mucosa. Although presentation in the parotid gland is not unusual, bilateral cystic masses and associated hypopharyngeal involvement are rare. We describe an 83-year-old man with a large painless facial swelling; he was otherwise asymptomatic. On examination, bilateral parotid masses and a mass in the hypopharynx were found. Biopsy of the hypopharynx was consistent with MALT lymphoma. The patient was treated with single-agent chemotherapy and had a good initial response. MALT lymphoma occasionally originates within the salivary glands and other sites in the head and neck region. This disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic or bilateral parotid masses and hypopharyngeal masses.