Radiation Induced Clear Cell Variant of Acinic Cell Carcinoma in Submandibular Salivary Gland - A Rare Case Report

Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC), usually described as a low-grade malignant salivary gland neoplasm that accounts for about 17 % of the tumours with their cell of origin from the acinar cells of the gland. Previous radiation exposure and familial predisposition are documented risk factors for ACC. ACC occurring in the submandibular/ sublingual salivary gland is extremely rare. Clear cells appreciated among the tumour cells population are attributed to physiological and pathological clearing among glandular cells and has been reported in ACC. The proportion of clear cells dominating the cellular population is not a common occurrence. We report one such case diagnosed with involvement of submandibular salivary gland with a previous history of radiation therapy for laryngeal carcinoma 16 years earlier. Histopathological analysis supported the evidence of clear cell variant of Acinic cell carcinoma of submandibular salivary gland, possibly radiation induced.