Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is one of the most frequently encountered malignancies of the salivary gland, accounting for 10–20% of all salivary gland malignancies. Data of the 18 cases of ACC of the parotid gland seen at our institution between 1999 and 2016 were collected through a medical chart review and analyzed. Of all the patients, 83% complained of pain or tenderness in the parotid region associated with histological perineural spread of the tumor. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and ultrasound scan/MRI had been performed for all patients. However, in three of the patients, surgery was performed under the tentative diagnosis of a benign parotid tumor. Advanced T stage and the solid-type of tumor histopathology were associated with a worse survival. Seventeen patients underwent surgery with or without postoperative radiotherapy. One patient receive chemotherapy and radiation. The 5- and 10-year disease-specific and disease-free survival rates were 78% and 47% and 52% and 27%, respectively.
The patients with ACC frequently presented with pain, and low/intermediate grade ACC was encountered at high frequency. Pain in the parotid region is an important feature of parotid cancer, and particular attention should be paid to it, particularly for the diagnosis of ACC.
