Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2011 Mar;54(3):213-216. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2011.54.3.213.

A Clinical Study of the Warthin's Tumor of the Salivary Gland

• Lim S
• Ryu S
• Lee K
• Hwang B
• Lee EJ
• Hong KH
• Yang Y

• KMID: 2277218
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2011.54.3.213

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to define the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of the salivary Warthin's tumor in order to work out a therapeutic strategy.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
The medical records of 64 patients who underwent surgery and were pathologically diagnosed with Warthin's tumor at our department from January 1997 to December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
There were 60 (94%) males and 4 (6%) females with an overall male-to-female ratio of 15 : 1. The average age was 59.8+/-9.2 years (range from 35 to 78). All tumors were found in the parotid gland. Of the 66 tumors, 31 (48%) occurred in the right side, 28 (44%) tumors occurred in left side, and 5 (8%) tumors occurred in bilaterally. A superficial parotidectomy was performed in 38 (59%) patients, lumpectomy in 25 (39%) patients and bilateral lumpectomy in one patient. There were 18 (28%) postoperative complications. The most common complication was transient facial palsy that occurred in 11 (17%) patients. Recurrence occurred in 2 (3%) patients, oneipsilaterally and the other contralaterally. All recurrences were found in patients who underwent superficial parotidectomy.
CONCLUSION
Warthin's tumor has a very low recurrence rate with a benign nature. The study shows that lumpectomy is an effective surgical treatment for Warthin's tumor with an advantage of reducing facial nerve palsy and recurrence rate.

Keyword

Warthin's tumor; Lumpectomy; Parotid gland

MeSH Terms

Facial Nerve
Facial Paralysis
Female
Humans
Imidazoles
Male
Mastectomy, Segmental
Medical Records
Nitro Compounds
Paralysis
Parotid Gland
Postoperative Complications
Recurrence
Salivary Glands
Treatment Outcome
Imidazoles
Nitro Compounds