Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland - A case report and review of literature

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ADCC) is a relatively rare malignant salivary gland tumor comprising less than 1% of all malignancies of head and neck. It can arise in any salivary gland site, but approximately 50?60% develops within the minor salivary glands. On fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), hyaline globules surrounded by neoplastic cells forming a cell ball are the diagnostic. Adenoid cystic carcinoma, being rare, was not suspected at the first instance. The final diagnosis was made from the cytological, radiological, and histopathological reports.