Basal cell adenocarcinoma of submandibular gland mimicking a vascular mass – An unusual presentation of a rare tumor

Basal cell adenocarcinoma (BCAC), the malignant counterpart of basal cell adenoma, is a rare salivary gland neoplasm, the most common site being parotid gland. It has been classified as a low-grade tumor with a favourable prognosis. Only a few cases have been reported to occur in submandibular gland. This report describes a case of right submandibular swelling which was diagnosed as a vascular tumor on initial imaging studies, thus, precluding aspiration cytology studies. Surgical excision of this tumor surprisingly revealed it to be a basal cell adenocarcinoma. Histopathological features of this entity have been described together with a literature review of the treatment modality of this rare tumor.