Warthin’s tumour: Treatment, symptoms, advice and help

About warthin’s tumour

Warthin's tumour also known as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum or adenolymphoma, is a type of benign tumour of the salivary glands.

Warthin’s tumour : Incidence, age and sex

It is the second most common benign parotid tumour. It accounts for 4-15% of salivary gland neoplasms and is more common in men during their 6-7th decades.

Signs & symptoms of warthin’s tumour : Diagnosis

Most tumours present as slow-growing, painless swellings below the ear, in front of the ear or in the upper aspect of the neck. Less commonly, tumours may arise from the accessory lobe and present as persistent swellings within the cheek. Rarely, tumours may arise from the deep lobe of the gland and present as parapharyngeal masses and produce symptoms like difficulty in swallowing and snoring.

Causes and prevention of warthin’s tumour

Its etiology is unknown, but there is a strong association with cigarette smoking.

Warthin’s tumour: Complications

Complications include infection and cyst formation in the tumour.

Warthin’s tumour: Treatment

CT and MRI scanning are the most useful imaging techniques .Fine-needle aspiration biopsy may aid in obtaining a preoperative diagnosis. Most of these tumours are treated with surgical removal. Recurrence is rare, occurring in 6–12% of cases. All tumours of the superficial lobe of the parotid gland should be managed by superficial parotidectomy.