Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinomas are a rare histological subtype of adenocarcinoma.
Pathology
Adenoid cystic carcinomas are generally considered low grade 4. The tumors have a notable tendency for perineural spread.
Location
They have a wide distribution and mainly occur in relation to the airways, lacrimal glands and breasts. Reported locations include:
- head and neck
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal glands
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the larynx 6
- hard palate
- nasopharynx
- rarely reported: eyelid 5
- sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma 7
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast 2
- tracheobronchial tree/respiratory tract
-
adenoid cystic carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree
- second most common primary malignant tracheal neoplasm (after squamous cell carcinoma) 4
- previously also called a cylindroma in this location 4
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung
-
adenoid cystic carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree
- pelvis
- uterine/cervical
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin glands