Metastasis of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: A Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is an uncommon malignant tumor of the head and neck region, typically arising from the major salivary glands with occasional origin from other organ sites. The most common metastatic sites are reported to be lung (75%) and bone (5%), whereas kidney involvement by AdCC is extremely rare with less than 40 reported single cases in literature. It is reported that kidney metastasis by AdCC is usually a late event, is typically unilateral, and is usually composed of one to three foci, and thus has clinical features which mimic a primary renal tumor. This case reviews the current literature on metastatic AdCC and describes a 66-year-old female with original diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right lacrimal gland with metastasis to the right kidney 6 years later.