OBJECTIVE To report the clinical characteristics, treatment and complication of Warthin tumors. METHODS we conducted a retrospective study of 70 patients undergoing resection of papillary lymphomatous cystadenoma. METHODS age, sex, ethnicity, presence or absence of smoking, primary site of tumor, tumor size in cm, presence of bilateral tumor, type of operation, multicentricity, treatment complications, recurrence and follow up. RESULTS Forty-four patients (62.8%) were male and 26 (37.2%) female, with a mean age of 56.7; smoking was present in 55 (78.6%) patients; 66 (94.3%) tumors were unilateral and four (5.7%) bilateral, with an average size of 4.1 cm on physical examination. The complications were 14 (19%) cases of facial paresis and / or paralysis, seroma in 10 (13.8%), Frey's syndrome in three (4%), hematoma in two (2.7%) and wound infection in one (1.5%) case. CONCLUSIONS Warthin tumors have a higher incidence in male smokers and predominantly unilateral location of the parotid gland. Superficial parotidectomy with preservation of facial nerve was effective in 100% cases. Complications were transient paresis or paralysis, seroma, Frey syndrome, hematoma and wound infection.