Warthin's tumor of the larynx: a very rare case and systematic review of the literature

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 May 12;44(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s40463-015-0067-5.

Abstract

Background: Warthin's tumor or cystadenolymphoma (CAL) is a benign salivary gland tumor occurring almost exclusively in the parotid gland. CALs of other locations are rare.

Case presentation: We report a laryngeal CAL detected in a positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) performed for breast cancer follow-up. The tumor was successfully treated by transoral surgery.

Discussion: Only 14 cases of laryngeal CAL are reported worldwide. These cases confirmed our experience of an uncomplicated and mostly successful transoral resection.

Conclusion: CALs of the larynx are very rare. They are characterized by hypermetabolism in PET/CT. The increasing use of PET/CT investigations in cancer patients could give rise to more incidental findings of CALs at unusual locations such as the larynx.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenolymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenolymphoma / pathology
  • Adenolymphoma / surgery*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / surgery
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Laryngoscopy
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / surgery
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18