Acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary glands: a literature review

Acinic cell carcinoma [ACC] is a low-grade malignant salivary neoplasm that constitutes approximately 17% of primary salivary gland malignancies. In the head and neck region, the parotid gland is the preddominant site of origin and women are usually more frequently diagnosed than men. Previous radiation exposure and familial predisposition are some of the risk factors for ACC. A slowly enlarging mass lesion in the tail of the parotid gland is the most frequent presentation. The diagnosis is usually confirmed with a fine needle aspiration biopsy, and surgical excision is the main treatment of this malignant neoplasm. Other treatment modalities such as radiotherapy may be indicated in some cases. ACC has a significant tendency to recur, to produce metastases [cervical lymph nodes and lungs], and may have an aggressive evolution. Therefore, long-term follow-up is mandatory after treatment

Thyroid carcinoma in the United Arab Emirates: perspective and experience of a tertiary care hospital

Although the distribution of thyroid carcinoma in the Arab Gulf States has been described, no previous study has examined the characteristic clinicopathologic features of thyroid carcinoma cases in the United Arab Emirates. The medical records of 135 patients with thyroid carcinoma diagnosed over a 15-year period [1991-2005] at Tawam Hospital, the national referral oncology center in the UAE, were retrospectively studied and the cases classified according to the histologic classification of the World Health Organization [WHO]. Seventy-eight patients [58%] were diagnosed before the age of 45 years with an overall peak incidence in the fourth and fifth decades. The female to male ratio was 2.4:1. Eighty-four percent had papillary thyroid carcinoma [PTC], while follicular thyroid carcinoma [FTC], anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and medullary carcinoma comprised 14%, 1.4% and 0.6%, respectively. The conventional classical variant of papillary carcinoma was the most common type. Three-quarters of the papillary carcinomas presented as multinodular goiter, while one-fifth presented as a solitary thyroid nodule. Minimal invasive follicular carcinoma was the most common variant of follicular carcinoma. Thyroid carcinoma in the United Arab Emirates seems to be more common among females and female gender may be a risk factor. Age <45 years can be considered an important prognostic factor as well as a possible risk factor. PTC predominates the histologic pattern of thyroid carcinoma, which is usually associated with an iodide-sufficient area