WARTHINS TUMOR - A 40-YEAR EXPERIENCE AT THE JOHNS-HOPKINS HOSPITAL

Warthin's tumor previously has been thought to occur much more commonl y in men than in women and rarely in African Americans. One hundred th irty-two cases of Warthin's tumor treated at The Johns Hopkins Hospita l from 1952 to 1992 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 90 (68%) men and 42 (32%) women, with an overall man-to-woman ratio of 2.2:1. The number and percentage of women with Warthin's tumor increased over each consecutive decade:1952 to 1962, 5 (21%); 1963 to 1972, 6 (29%); 1973 to 1982, 11 (31%); and 1983 to 1992, 20 (39%). A positive smokin g history was found in 88% of the men and in 89% of the women with a W arthin's turner. Eleven (8%) African Americans and 1 (0.75%) Asian Ame rican were diagnosed to have a Warthin's tumor. Also, the incidence of African Americans with a Warthin's tumor increased over each decade: 0 (0%), 1 (4.8%), 2 (5.5%), and 8 (16%). This study's results indicate a progressive increase in the occurrence of this tumor in women and i n African Americans and a higher overall incidence in African American s than previously reported.