[Adenolymphoma of the salivary glands. The anatomicoclinical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of 76 cases].

A series of 76 cases of adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumor) of the salivary glands is presented with emphasis on its epidemiological, clinico-pathological and therapeutic features; together with the analysis of the clinical records and of the epidemiological data, this study has reevaluated the histopathological features of the 76 cases of Warthin's tumor on hematoxylin-eosin stained slides. On these bases, the authors underline the frequent multifocality and/or bilaterality of Warthin's tumor (11.3% of cases), its frequent association with tumors of other sites (11.3% of cases), the prevalence in males (M:F ratio = 24:1) and in adults (mean age: 57 years) of this type of tumor. Furthermore, this study confirms the parotid gland as the elective site for Warthin's tumor and the possibility to categorize this entity into four different histological types. The latter finding should be kept in mind especially when fine needle aspiration (FNA) is used as a preoperative diagnostic procedure for Warthin's tumor to avoid misleading diagnosis and overtreatment. From the analysis of the results the authors underline the need for a complex and multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of Warthin's tumor in order to allow conservative surgery with preservation of the facial nerve.