A Comparative Study of Pleomorphic Adenoma and Warthin Tumor Using Ultrasonography and Clinical Features

Pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors are the most common benign tumors affecting the parotid glands. This pilot study aims to improve the accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumor in the parotid gland. From December 2015 to December 2022, patients who had complete clinical data, preoperative ultrasonography, and postoperative pathologic confirmation of pleomorphic adenoma or Warthin tumor and underwent surgery at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were statistically significant differences between pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumor in terms of age, gender, smoking history, number of lesions, lymph node-like morphology, internal echo homogeneity, echogenicity, and blood flow pattern in nodules (P <0.05). Univariate analysis identified variables with statistical significance (P < 0.05), which were further included as independent variables in a multivariate logistic regression model, and the results showed that the model was statistically significant (model χ2=2.843, P＜0.05, R2=0.089). In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve was generated, incorporating the 3 independent variables of age, nodule length to thickness ratio, and echo homogeneity, revealing an area under the curve of 0.976±0.010, P < 0.001, with a 95% CI of 0.934 to 0.995. Our present study identified age, nodule length-to-thickness ratio, and echo homogeneity as significant indicators in differentiating these tumors. Moreover, these 3 variables have significance in predicting these tumors.