Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast: a brief review of literature and report of a new case

ABSTRACT

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm; yet its diagnosis is important because it has an excellent prognosis compared to most other malignancies of the breast. Documented cases with lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis have been reported in two cases and local recurrence or distant metastasis is infrequent. Consequently, treatment by simple mastectomy has been advocated. Haagensen regards adenoid cystic carcinoma one of the rarest forms of breast cancer, and has personally treated only one patient. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm. Review of the literature discloses 127 well documented cases. It is also called adenocystic carcinoma, cylindroma, or basaloid carcinoma. It is best known as a tumor of salivary glands, though infrequently occurs at other sites in the body, the tracheobronchial tree, nasopharynx, maxillary sinus, uterine cervix, and the skin. The term adenoid cystic carcinoma is recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to other synonyms [Thackray and Sobin, 1972]