DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i05.017

Pages: 714-718

Tumors of the salivary gland are comparatively rare, comprising less than 3% of all tumors. The distribution of tumors in the major salivary glands varies by site, with 85% to 90% occurring in the parotid gland, 10% to 15% occurring in the submandibular gland, and only 1% occurring in the sublingual gland. There is a higher incidence of malignancy in submandibular and sublingual tumors as compared with parotid tumors. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a malignancy of the seromucinous glands of the head and neck, accounting for 35% to 43% of malignant submandibular gland neoplasms. The majority of patients with ACC present with an asymptomatic mass that may have been present for months or even years prior to diagnosis. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is well known for its indolent pattern of recurrence and propensity for pulmonary metastases. Furthermore, it has a prolonged natural history and is slow growing even when there has been local recurrence and distant metastases. We report the case of a 46-year-old patient diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submaxillary gland, evolving for 5 years.