Unilateral Deforming Warthin's Tumor: Case Report and Literature Review

Warthin's tumor (WT) is the second most common benign tumor of the parotid gland. Located almost exclusively in the parotid gland and presenting a slow growth rate, WT usually does not exceed 4 cm and rarely benefits from early surgical treatment. The aim of this paper is to present a case of giant parotid Warthin's tumor. The occurrence of large and deforming WT is rare, previous research showed a single similar reported case. The patient's computed tomography scans showed a solid and cystic 15 x 13 cm(2) mass of the parotid gland, without visible signs of invading the adjacent structures. Superficial parotidectomy with tumor excision was performed, with preservation of glandular and facial nerve functions. The paper also presents a brief literature review addressing the main controversies regarding etiopathology, epidemiology, diagnostic methods and treatment options for this parotid gland tumor.