J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2012 Dec;38(6):366-370. 10.5125/jkaoms.2012.38.6.366.

Warthin's tumor of the parotid gland: a case report

• Kim CH
• Han SI
• Kim MY

• KMID: 2136974
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2012.38.6.366

Abstract

Initially described in 1929, Warthin's tumor is a benign neoplasm predominantly found in the parotid gland of the salivary glands. Warthin's tumor is synonymous for cystadenoma lymphomatosum, adenolymphoma, and cystadenolymphoma. This tumor usually causes minimal pain, but the patient may complain of tinnitus, pain in the ear, or deafness. The tumor is treated with surgical excision, which is easily performed due to the superficial location of the tumor. In our case, a 69-year-old man visited our clinic primarily complaining of swelling in the left parotid gland area. Computed tomography revealed well-defined margins of the tumor in the superficial lobe of the left parotid gland and heterogeneous contrast enhancement. We performed superficial parotidectomy, with the pathological examination confirming Warthin's tumor. We report a typical case of Warthin's tumor and a literature review.

Keyword

Salivary gland; Neoplasms; Adenolymphoma; Oral surgery

MeSH Terms

Adenolymphoma
Cystadenoma
Deafness
Ear
Humans
Parotid Gland
Salivary Glands
Surgery, Oral
Tinnitus

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Preoperative extraoral findings: tumor of the left parotid gland.

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  Fig. 2 Preoperative computed tomography (CT) findings. Enhanced CT image of Warthin's tumor of the superficial lobe of the left parotid gland. 3.5×3.5 cm well-defined margins of the tumor and heterogeneous contrast enhancing with multifocal cystic portion. A. Axial view. B. Coronal view.

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  Fig. 3 Operative findings. A. Preauricular and retromandibular incision line design (modified Blair incision). B. Superficial parotidectomy with Warthin's tumor. C. The superficial lobe has been removed, and the facial nerve is exposed.

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  Fig. 4 Postoperative findings.

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  Fig. 5 Gross finding. The cut surface shows a few cystic spaces containing grayish, yellowish, and gelatinous material.

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  Fig. 6 Microscopic findings. The tumor consists of cystic spaces lined by bilayered oncocytic epithelium and lymphoid stroma (H&E staining, A: ×40, B: ×200).

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