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

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.