Ulcerative Warthin Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Jun;101(5):332-335. doi: 10.1177/0145561320957574. Epub 2020 Sep 15.

Abstract

Warthin tumor with ulceration of the surrounding skin is extremely rare, making it difficult to differentiate from parotid cancer in the clinical setting. We report a 65-year-old man with a Warthin tumor in the right parotid gland that had ulceration of the overlying skin. The patient presented with right upper neck mass 2 years ago. Ultrasound and fine needle aspiration were done, and Warthin tumor was suspected. One year later, the mass was enlarged with ulceration of the skin. Superficial parotidectomy with fusiform excision of the skin was performed, and histopathological diagnosis revealed a Warthin tumor with inflammatory change. We proposed that this unique manifestation may have been induced by fine needle aspiration, enlargement of the tumor, and ischemic changes secondary to pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

Keywords: Russell body; Warthin tumor; fine needle aspiration; malignant transformation; skin ulceration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenolymphoma* / diagnosis
  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parotid Gland / pathology
  • Parotid Gland / surgery
  • Parotid Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Parotid Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Parotid Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Salivary Glands / pathology