Parotid Gland Tumors: A Multicenter Analysis of 1020 Cases. Increasing Incidence of Warthin's Tumor

We assessed the frequency of the parotid gland tumor entities and correlated sex and age in different tumor types. Retrospective data were obtained from three major otorhinolaryngology clinics in Karlsruhe and Pforzheim, Germany within a 10-year period. In total, 1020 cases of parotidectomy for benign and malignant lesions were identified. We found 864 (84.7%) and 156 (15.3%) patients with benign and malignant tumors of the parotid gland, respectively. The most common benign parotid tumor was Warthin's tumor, followed by pleomorphic adenoma. The most common primary malignant tumor types were acinic cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Secondary malignant tumors of the parotid gland included lymphoma and metastatic, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The frequency of Warthin's tumors was higher than that of pleomorphic adenomas. A large proportion of the malignant parotid tumors represent metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the head and neck.