title: The adenoid cystic carcinoma. Special aspects of its growth and therapy.
abstract: In spite of its rare incidence the adenoid cystic carcinoma must be treated with respect because of its hidden malignant character. In 5 out of 21 patients recurrences occurred much longer than 5 years after the first operation. The extension of this tumour along branches of the trigeminal nerve could be well demonstrated in 7 of our patients where we were able to produce histological proof or radiographic evidence. The theory of tumour growth along the "tissue of least resistance" is illustrated by a special case report. As for the therapy, ultra-radical surgery has proved to be the most effective so far, whereas radio- or chemotherapy were only useful as palliative measures.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Mainz, W.-Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemprich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidseder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology