Diffuse infiltrative CD8+ lymphocytosis syndrome: review of the literature and report of a case

Abstract

Diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS) is an uncommon manifestation of HIV infection characterised by persistent circulating CD8+ lymphocytosis accompanied by visceral lymphocytic infiltration. The lungs and the salivary glands are the most common organs involved. Parotid enlargement in HIV-seropositive subjects may represent HIV-associated lymphoepithelial lesions, hyperplastic lymphadenopathy, lymphoma, bacterial and viral infections, Sjögren's syndrome and DILS. Therefore confirmatory histopathological diagnosis and immunohistochemical analysis following a biopsy is essential to determine the exact nature of the salivary gland enlargement. A review of the literature of DILS and a description of a typical case of bilateral cystic lymphoepithelial lesions of the parotid glands, in an HIV-seropositive subject with DILS, is presented.