Histopathologic analysis of parotid gland Tumors – A current, retrospective study of 567 cases in a head and neck-cancer center

The histopathologic variety of parotid gland tumors is enormous. The WHO-classification separates 13 benign and 24 malign types of tumors. Beside very few case-control-studies taken out of specialized tumor-databases there is only few data concerning the histological subtype of this kind of tumor but the knowledge of the histopathological subtype is very important for planning a therapy and the prognosis.

We analyzed every case of parotid gland tumor that has been treated between 2008 and 2012 and in a 2nd group between 2013 and october 2017 in our ENT-department. Overall we included 567 cases in our evaluation. For the capturing of the data we used the electronic health record. The diagnosis has been confirmed by a histopathological examination by our department of pathology.

Between 2008 – 2012 we found 238 cases (88%) with benign variations, in 32 (12%) we found malign tumors. In the following five years we found the same distribution. About 80% of the benign tumors were Warthin's tumors (47%) and pleomorphic adenomas (33%,). Less we found cysts (7%), lymph nodes (4%). In the group of malign tumors predominated the squamous cell carcinoma adenocarcinoma and the lymphoma. We didn't find any significant change of the distribution between our two groups.

In our patients in the malignant tumors the squamous cell carcinoma predominated over the lymphoma and the adenocarcinoma. In the group of the benign tumors we found more Warthin's tumors than pleomorphic adenomas. We found different results compared to the common literature. This shows the importance of a central and national tumor-database.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)