Warthin's tumor at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute: additional evidence of homogeneous sex prevalence and association with other neoplasms

Abstract

Purpose of the study: To report the largest Brazilian series of Warthin's tumor (WT).

Procedures: The medical files of 76 patients with WT treated in the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from 1996 to 2006 were reviewed.

Results: The male:female ratio was 2:1, with a predominance of white, old, and smoking patients. However, there were more women among the nonsmokers. One fifth of the patients presented with synchronous multiple lesions. Parotid lesions were prevalent, but there were patients with lesions in cervical lymph nodes and in the inferior lip. Most cases were treated by superficial parotidectomy, without recurrences. One fourth of the patients also developed other primary neoplasms.

Conclusions: The observed data do not differ from those in the international literature. Multiplicity and the development of other neoplastic diseases require close clinical management of patients with WT.

Message: The previously unreported observation of female prevalence among nonsmoking people with WT should be confirmed and explored in future studies.