Early Detection of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma And its Implication on Prognosis – A Clinical Study

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is an uncommon salivary gland malignancy that presents insidiously and is generally advanced when diagnosed. It is a slow growing malignant tumour, characterized by wide local infiltration, perineural spread, a propensity to local recurrence late distant metastases and delayed reporting & diagnosis. Little progress has been made in advancing "curative" treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. The disease is said to have a fatal outcome. The time is now opportune for a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to identify patients who would benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in the control of loco regional recurrences and the prevention of distant metastases. A Series of Six cases were reported to our OPD with a swelling of the palate which were diagnosed histopathologically as ACC and referred to Higher centres for surgery and Radiotherapy as the earliest for better prognosis.