Is lymphatic papillary cystadenoma benign or malignant?

Lymphatic papillary cystadenoma is benign in 80% of cases.

Adenolymphoma is a common malignant tumor of the parotid gland, also known as lymphatic papillary cystadenoma. Adenolymphoma belongs to the same category as malignant lymphoma. It is a relatively common malignant tumor, mostly occurring in individuals aged between 40 and 70, with a majority having a history of smoking. This type of tumor varies in size and is usually located below the earlobe, appearing round or oval-shaped. On palpation, it feels soft and sometimes elastic, and about 10% of cases involve bilateral multiple tumors. Although 80% of adenolymphomas are benign, they are difficult to diagnose because of their slow growth, lack of pain, and relatively hidden location. The probability of malignant transformation of adenolymphoma is very low. However, in a small number of patients, symptoms such as rapid growth, facial paralysis, limited mouth opening, and cervical lymph node enlargement may occur, which should raise suspicion of possible malignancy. Currently, the best treatment approach is surgical excision, as the postoperative recurrence rate is very low.

Nevertheless, the possibility of malignant changes in adenolymphoma cannot be completely ruled out. Therefore, once diagnosed, prompt surgical intervention is recommended to prevent progression to malignancy.