Malignant histopathologic counterpart of the benign lymphoepithelial lesion

Three cases that were initially diagnosed as either typical of, or compatible with, the benign lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid are presented. The behavior of these lesions was decidedly not benign and they eventuated in local recurrence, regional metastases, and, in one case, distant metastases. The authors express the belief that these lesions may represent the malignant histopathologic counterpart of the benign lymphoepithelial lesion.