Salivary glands: Warthin tumour: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Salivary glands: Warthin tumour

Sample item

An elderly male smoker has a soft, cystic, bilateral parotid swelling in the tail of the gland. Histology shows oncocytic epithelium with a lymphoid stroma. Which tumour is this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Warthin tumour

Warthin tumour (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) occurs in older men who smoke, is commonly bilateral or multifocal and arises almost only in the parotid. It is benign and typically shows increased uptake on technetium pertechnetate scan. Treatment is excision or observation.

Option by option

  • A. Pleomorphic adenoma

    Pleomorphic adenoma is a solid mixed tumour.

  • B. Warthin tumour (correct)

    Correct. This is the classical profile of Warthin tumour.

  • C. Adenoid cystic carcinoma

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma shows cribriform pattern.

  • D. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

    Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is malignant with mucus and epidermoid cells.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Warthin tumour. Warthin tumour (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) occurs in older men who smoke, is commonly bilateral or multifocal and arises almost only in the parotid.

Why is "Pleomorphic adenoma" not the answer?

Pleomorphic adenoma is a solid mixed tumour.

Why is "Adenoid cystic carcinoma" not the answer?

Adenoid cystic carcinoma shows cribriform pattern.

Why is "Mucoepidermoid carcinoma" not the answer?

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is malignant with mucus and epidermoid cells.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Salivary glands: Warthin tumour in General Surgery. It is benign and typically shows increased uptake on technetium pertechnetate scan. Treatment is excision or observation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Salivary glands: Warthin tumour?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.