Acinic cell carcinoma metastatic to the brain: Case report and ultrastructural study

✍ Scribed by Watson, Peter H. ;Sutherland, Garnette R. ;Diocee, Malkit ;Sima, Anders A. F.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1987
• Weight: 461 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-6403
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890100211

✦ Synopsis

We report a case of isolated cerebral metastasis from an acinic cell carcinoma, which arose in minor salivary glands 20 years previously. The clinical, pathologic and ultrastructural features are described, together with a review of the literature, which suggests that this is an unusual occurrence. HEAD & NECK SURGERY 10:llE-123,1967 Acinic cell carcinoma is an unusual type of salivary gland tumor, comprising 2.5% of tumors of the parotid gland.'S2 It is even less common in the minor salivary glands, and ultrastructural studies are few. Although this tumor is generally associated with a good initial prognosis, late recurrence and metastasis to local lymph nodes, bone, and lung is well r e ~o g n i z e d . ~, ~ However, metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS) is rare.1,3

We report the clinical, histologic and ultrastructural features of a case of acinic cell carci-