Conventionally, partial parotidectomy has been performed for benign parotid tumors. But, considering the fact that the possibility of Warthin's tumors becoming malignant is extremely small, it is questionable to treat Warthin's tumors and pleomorphic adenomas equally.
We have removed Warthin's tumors which exist in the tail of the parotid gland performing enucleation surgery under local anesthesia since 2002.
With enucleation surgery, there is no need to ligate vessels, use a drain or cut the great auricular nerve and the retromandibular vein. Furthermore, we can remove tumors dissecting along the tumor membrane carefully, without exposing the facial nerve. So, enucleation should be considered less invasive in comparison with partial parotidectomy.
With these advantages mentioned above, Warthin's tumor is expected to be increasingly treated with enucleation surgery from now on.