Adenoid cystic carcinoma: a rare clinical entity and literature review

Abstract

The adenoid cystic carcinoma is a relatively rare epithelial tumor of the major and minor salivary glands, accounting for about 1% of all malignant tumor of the oral and maxillofacial region. Although it presents a widespread age distribution, peak incidence occurs predominantly among women, between the 5th and 6th decades of life. The clinical and pathological findings typical of this tumor include slow growth, perineural invasion, potential local recurrence and distant metastasis. Histopathologically it is composed of basaloid cells with primarily myoepithelial/basal cell differentiation. It presents three patterns, cribriform, tubular and solid; the solid type is related to a poor prognosis contrary to the cribriform type, which has a better prognosis. Surgical excision with wide margins is the treatment of choice, if it metastasizes to lymph nodules, post surgical radiotherapy is recommended. We presented herein the case of a 45 year old female patient who presented a palatal lesion, which was treated with surgery and radiotherapy as an additional treatment. We also described a brief literature review of adenoid cystic carcinoma.