Imaging Sci Dent.  2016 Dec;46(4):291-296. 10.5624/isd.2016.46.4.291.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the sublingual gland: A case report

• Song JY

• KMID: 2362749
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2016.46.4.291

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the sublingual gland is an extremely rare neoplasm. The clinicopathological characteristics of ACC are slow-growing swelling with or without ulceration, perineural spread, local recurrence, and distant metastasis. This report describes a 58-year-old male who had a slowly growing swelling without ulceration on the right side of the mouth floor that had been present for 1 month. In a radiological examination, the mass showed multilocular cystic features and no bony or tongue muscle invasion. No enlarged cervical lymph nodes were detected. Excisional biopsy and histological analysis showed that the lesion was ACC. In addition to reporting a rare case of ACC, this report also discusses the differential diagnosis and treatment of ACC with a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Salivary Gland; Mouth Floor

MeSH Terms

Adenoids*
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic*
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Floor
Neoplasm Metastasis
Recurrence
Salivary Glands
Sublingual Gland*
Tongue
Ulcer

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A mass on the right mouth floor is shown in a clinical photograph.

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  Fig. 2 A dental panoramic image shows no specific findings.

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  Fig. 3 A. Dilatation of the submandibular gland duct (arrowhead) is shown on a contrast-enhanced computed tomograph (coronal view). B. Cystic density with marginal enhancement in the right sublingual space (arrowhead) is shown on a contrast-enhanced computed tomograph (axial view).

• 

  Fig. 4 A. The mass shows heterogeneous intensity with peripheral enhancement in gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (axial view). B. The mass is located superior to the mylohyoid muscle in gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (coronal view). C. Well-defined multilocular cystic mass in the right sublingual space is demonstrated in fat-suppressed T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (axial view). D. The mass is surrounded by a hypointense signal, which was suspected to represent a fibrous capsule, in fat-suppressed T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (coronal view). E. The location and size of the mass is clearly shown in fat-suppressed T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (coronal view).

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  Fig. 5 A. The resected mass is shown to be well capsulated in fibrotic tissue in an intraoperative clinical photograph. B. The resected mass is filled with a uniform material.

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  Fig. 6 The histological analysis reveals a typical cribriform adenoid cystic carcinoma (H&E stain, A. ×100, B. ×200).

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