Warthin's Tumor with Skin Ulceration Mimicking Parotid Malignancy

Abstract

Warthin’s tumor with skin ulceration is extremely uncommon. We report on a 64-year-old man with Warthin’s tumor with skin ulceration in the right parotid gland. The ulceration may have resulted from malignant transformation of either the epithelial or lymphoid component, or, as in very rare cases, an inflammatory process crossing the capsule of the tumor into the adjacent parotid parenchyma and overlying skin. Although Warthin’s tumor is a common benign tumor of the parotid area, once ulcerated, it is difficult to make a clinical diagnosis. The gross finding of the case reported herein was close to the malignant form, but because an fine needle aspira tion biopsy history existed, the possibility of whether more inflammatory changes might have oc curred was considered. Therefore, since complications such as facial nerve injury may arise, extensive surgeries should be avoided.