Warthin tumour is the second most common benign tumour of the parotid gland. This study was designed to investigate the lymphatic vessels in Warthin tumours in an effort to understand better its pathogenesis.Tissue specimens of 31 patients (19 men and 11 women; mean age 57 years, median size of the tumours 2.86 cm) were analysed by means of immunohistochemistry applying the monoclonal antibody D2-40.We found numerous D2-40-positive sinus-like vessels particularly at the inner layer of the capsule.Since subcapsular sinuses are a major morphological feature of lymph nodes in general, the finding of podoplanin expression in the large majority of subcapsular vessels in Warthin tumours confirms the view that this tumour has its origin in regional lymph nodes.