Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma with Contralateral Cavernous Sinus Metastasis: A Rare Adult Tumor in an Adolescent Patient

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) accounts for only 1% of all malignant head and neck tumors, and rarely affects children or adolescents. We present a 16-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with ACC at 12 years of age. The primary tumor was located in the left parotid gland. Initial treatment consisted of surgical resection and radiation therapy. Less than two years later, she developed recurrent disease in the right cavernous sinus with pulmonary metastases. At the time of this report, she is alive with disease. Both the patient's age and pattern of metastasis are rarely reported in the literature.