Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Minor Salivary Glands of the Tongue: A Case Study with Review of Literature

Background: Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare and slowly growing tumor of the major salivary glands, usually arising from the parotid and rarely from the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. ACC accounts for 3 to 4% of parotid tumors, 2 to 6% of all salivary gland tumors and 10 to 17% of all malignant salivary gland tumors. Case report: A 40-year-old woman reported a slow growing mass in the oral cavity. The transoral aspiration biopsy was reported as pleomorphic adenoma arising from the minor salivary glands of the junctional zone of base of tongue. Rest of the neck examination was normal and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the mass confined to the superficial layers of the tongue without invasion. Intervention: The tumor was resected transorally with adequate margins. The tumor histology was typical of ACC with the margins free and wide on all the sides. The patient was kept on monthly follow-up where palpable nodes developed during the course of 6 months. The neck was addressed with supraomohyoid dissection and followed up without irradiation. Conclusion: ACC is a low-grade malignant salivary neoplasm rarely diagnosed in minor salivary glands of the oral cavity. The overall prognosis after surgical resection depends on the extent of lesion and the adequacy of the initial resection. Hence, keeping in mind the malignant potential of the disease careful long-term follow-up is advised.