Adenoid cystic carcinoma of submandibular salivary gland: A case report

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor. It is believed to arise from the epithelial cells of mucous-secreting glands. It most commonly occurs in the major and minor salivary glands of the head and neck. Many individuals are diagnosed with the disease in the fourth to sixth decades of life. There is a slight female preponderance (3:2). No strong, genetic or environmental risk factors have been identified. It is a slow-growing but aggressive tumor with a propensity for perineural invasion. Positive margins, perineural invasion and solid histology of ACC are associated with increased morbidity and treatment failure. An interesting case of adenoid cystic carcinoma along with clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, ultra sonography, histo- pathological features and surgical treatment is described here.