Endoscopic surgery for Warthin's tumor of the nasopharynx

Warthin's tumor almost exclusively occurs in the parotid gland. It is the second most common tumor after the pleomorphic adenoma. The extraparotid or ectopic Warthin's tumor is rare and is normally situated in the submandibular gland, cervical lymph node, lip, cheek, tongue, hard palate, lacrimal gland and larynx. In this paper we present a case of the Warthin's tumor with ectopic localization in the nasopharynx with asymptomatic outcome. A 56-year-old man has been diagnosed for 10-year history of headache. He had no past history of any otolaryngologic disease. The axial and coronal NMR scans showed a round-shaped, cyst-like tumor of approximately 12 mm in diameter. The tumor was in the middle line of the nasopharynx without compression of the Eustachian tubes. The histopathologic diagnosis was consisted with Warthin's tumor. The patient underwent tumor removal using an endoscopic transnasal approach. The Warthin's tumor is a benign lesion with extremely rare occurrence in the nasopharynx. The symptoms are varied and sometimes it could be recognized accidentally. In a very rare cases it may transform to malignant neoplasm. The optional approach to the nasopharynx must be selected after careful consideration of the individual case. An endoscopic power instrumentation surgery are recommended for small lesions.