Lymphoepithelial Cyst |
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Smooth-surface, yellow/white submucosal mass is keratin filled. |
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The oral lymphoepithelial cyst develops within a benign lymphoid aggregate or accessory tonsil of the oral or pharyngeal mucosa. The surface of such aggregates may be indented with tonsillar crypts, as are the much larger pharyngeal tonsils of the lateral pharyngeal walls. The crypts may become obstructed by keratin or other debris, or the surface opening may become constricted during episodes of inflammatory hyperplastic responses. Certain cases develop a complete disunion of the crypt epithelium from the surface epithelium, resulting in a subepithelial cyst lined by the old crypt epithelium. This cyst was first reported by Parmentier in 1857 as hydatid cyst. Outside of the head and neck region, lymphoepithelial cyst is found most frequently in the pancreas and testis.
A similar but much larger cervical lymphoepithelial cyst
(branchial cleft cyst) most probably develops from entrapped salivary
duct epithelium in the lymph nodes of the lateral neck, rather than from
the branchial cleft. These are discussed in a separate section of the present
book. Another similar cyst, the parotid
cyst, is found in major salivary glands, especially in AIDS patients,
although it often lacks a surrounding lymphoid aggregate.
This cyst is also discussed elsewhere in the present text.
Clinical Features
Oral lymphoepithelial cyst presents as a movable, painless submucosal nodule with a yellow or yellow-white discoloration (Figures 1 & 2). Occasional cysts are transparent. Almost all cases are less than 0.6 cm. in diameter at the time of diagnosis, which is usually during the teen years or the third decade of life. Approximately half of all intraoral examples are found on the oral floor, but the lateral and ventral tongue are not uncommon sites of occurrence, nor is the soft palate, especially the mucosa above the pharyngeal tonsil. Of course, this cyst may also occur within the pharyngeal tonsils themselves. Occasional superficial cysts rupture to release a foul-tasting, cheesy, keratinaceous material.
This cyst has a clinical appearance similar to that of an epidermoid
cyst or a dermoid cyst of the oral/pharyngeal mucosa, but its
growth potential is much less than the other cysts. The lymphoepithelial
cyst never occurs on the alveolar mucosa, hence, can easily be distinguished
from a gingival cyst of adults or from an unruptured
parulis or "pus pocket" at the terminus of a fistula (extending
from the apical or lateral region of an abscessed tooth).
Pathology and Differential Diagnosis
The lymphoepithelial cyst is lined by atrophic and often degenerated stratified squamous epithelium, usually lacking in rete processes and usually demonstrating a minimal granular cell layer (Figures 3 & 4). Orthokeratin is seen to be sloughing from the epithelial surface into the cystic lumen, often completely filling the lumen and sometimes showing dystrophic calcification. Rarely, mucus-filled goblet cells may be seen within the superficial layers of the epithelium, and occasional cysts will demonstrate an epithelium-lined communication with the overlying mucosal surface. The cyst is entrapped within a well-demarcated aggregate of mature lymphocytes. The aggregate or "tonsil" will have a variable number of germinal centers, sometimes none at all. The lymphoid aggregate may be hyperplastic.
This combination of epithelium-lined cyst with lymphoid aggregates is unique enough to make the diagnosis an easy one, but the pathologist must differentiate this lesion from the Warthin tumor (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum). The latter lesion is lined not by squamous epithelium but by a bilayered cuboidal, columnar or oncocytic ductal epithelium. It is almost always found in the parotid gland, but rare oral examples have been reported.
Occasional cysts have very small lumina with degenerated epithelial linings
and may mimic metastatic deposits of well differentiated squamous cell
carcinoma (Figure 5).
Deeper sections will reveal the true nature of the benign lesion.
Treatment and Prognosis
No treatment is usually necessary
for the oral lymphoepithelial cyst unless its location is such that it is
constantly being traumatized. Most lesions are, however,
removed by conservative surgical excision in order to arrive at a definitive
diagnosis. There is no malignant potential to this lesion but the lymphoid
stroma, as with all lymphoid tissues, can become involved with an extranodal lymphoma.
References (Chronologic Order)
Note: General references can be found by clicking on that topic to the left.
Buchner A, Hansen LS. Lymphoepithelial cysts of the oral mucosa. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1980; 50:441-449.
Gnepp DR, Sporck FT. Benign lymphoepithelial parotid cyst with sebaceous differentiation - cystic sebaceous lymphadenoma. Am J Clin Pathol 1980; 74:683-687.
Chaudhry AP. A clinicopathologic study of intraoral lymphoepithelial cysts. J Oral Med 1984; 39:79-84.
Skouteris CA, Patterson GT, Sotereanos GC. Benign cervical lymphoepithelial cyst: report of cases. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1989; 47:1106-1112.
Smith FB. Benign lymphoepithelial lesion and lymphoepithelial cyst of the parotid gland in HIV infection. Prog AIDS Pathol 1990; 2:61-72.
Janicke S, Kettner R, Kuffner HD. A possible inflammatory reaction in a lateral neck cyst (branchial cyst) because of odontogenic infection. Internat J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1994; 23:369-371.
Schinkenickl DA, Muller MF. Lymphoepithelial
cyst of the pancreas. Brit J Radiol 1996; 69:876-878.
