Radionuclide scan imaging of bilateral Warthin’s tumor and chronic inflammation in the submandibular glands of a patient with a history of heavy smoking

Abstract

Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, or Warthin’s tumor, is a benign tumor, primarily localized in the parotid glands. The tumor is more common in men than women, and it occurs usually in the fifth and sixth decades of life. Smoking seems to be one of the predisposing factors. The case of a 65-year-old man is described; he presented with a chief complaint of swelling in the bilateral parotid and submandibular glands. Imaging revealed a benign tumor in the right parotid gland, but only inflammation in both submandibular and the left parotid glands. A biopsy was carried out after rapidly increased swelling of the left parotid and left submandibular glands. Histopathological examinations revealed chronic sialadenitis. Superficial parotidectomies were performed 7 and 21 months after the initial visit on the right parotid and the left parotid glands, respectively. Histopathological examination revealed Warthin’s tumor in both parotid glands, with fibrogenesis and chronic sialadenitis in the submandibular glands.