1. If cytology of Warthin tumor is accurate, can management be conservative?
- Author
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Vlantis AC, Ng SK, Mak CK, Cheung JM, Chan AB, and van Hasselt CA
- Subjects
- Adenocarcinoma diagnosis, Adenolymphoma diagnosis, Adenolymphoma therapy, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biopsy, Fine-Needle, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Parotid Neoplasms diagnosis, Parotid Neoplasms therapy, Retrospective Studies, Sensitivity and Specificity, Adenocarcinoma pathology, Adenolymphoma pathology, Conservative Treatment, Parotid Gland surgery, Parotid Neoplasms pathology
- Abstract
We conducted a retrospective study to assess the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of Warthin tumor and to evaluate the subsequent risk of conservative nonsurgical management. We reviewed the records of 75 patients (76 tumors) with a parotid mass that had been diagnosed as a Warthin tumor by FNAC. This patient population was made up of 64 men and 11 women, aged 46 to 93 years (mean: 67). Of the 76 tumors, 40 were treated with surgical excision and 36 with conservative measures. Histology of the 40 excised parotid masses revealed that 38 (95%) were indeed Warthin tumors, 1 (2.5%) was a low-grade adenocarcinoma, and 1 was benign-not otherwise specified. None of the 36 tumors underwent malignant transformation either clinically or on repeat FNAC (if performed) during a follow-up of 4 to 120 months (mean: 55.5 ± 32.2). We conclude that conservative management of Warthin tumors confidently diagnosed on FNAC may be an option for patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgical excision.
- Published
- 2016