Clinical and molecular features of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas of salivary glands

Background. To analyze clinical features and to discuss the modality of investigation and treatment of a series of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. To investigate the prevalence of aberrant promoter methylation, responsible for gene inactivation, in a selected panel of genes potentially involved in the pathogenesis of B‐cell malignancies as O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase ( MGMT ), p73, death‐associated protein kinase ( DAP‐k ).Methods. Nine patients with primary MALT lymphoma of the salivary glands were retrospectively reviewed. MGMT, p73, DAP‐k apoptotic pathways were tested.Results. Methylation of DAP‐k was common (5/8; 63%). Histological examination ensured diagnostic confirmation, whereas fine‐needle aspiration cytology was not definitively diagnostic.Conclusion. Histological assessment is the gold standard in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. Parotidectomy represents a safe and reliable diagnostic tool leading to a definite diagnosis of MALT lymphomas in all cases and curative without other treatment in early‐stage MALT lymphoma. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009