Update of Common Salivary Tumors Moderators: Dr. John Eveson and
Dr. Silloo Kapadia Section 5 - Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma John W
Eveson Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a basaloid tumour consisting
of epithelial and myoepithelial cells in variable morphologic
configurations, including tubular, cribriform and solid patterns
(WHO 2005). Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) accounted for 4.4%
of all salivary gland tumors and 11.8% of malignant salivary
neoplasms in the largest reported series. It affects a wide age
range (13-103 years) with a peak incidence in 50–70 year olds.
There is a female preponderance of about 3:2. The most common
sites are the parotid (21%), palate (17%) and submandibular
gland (15%). Minor glands of the mouth and the upper
aerodigestive tract account for about half of all cases. Rare
central (intra-osseous) cases have been reported, the large
majority involving the body and angle of mandible.  Tumors
usually present as a slow growing but widely infiltrative mass
of long duration and may be mobile