Intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (cylindroma) is a relatively common head and neck tumor that is slow growing, but locally aggressive and thus prone to recurrence. It is of particular interest to neurosurgeons and neurologists because of its tendency to locally infiltrate neural structures and to spread perineurally. Intracranial involvement has been regarded as rare.


METHODS
A case report of a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma involving the Gasserian ganglion region is presented. The world literature on intracranial involvement of adenoid cystic carcinoma is reviewed. A discussion of the characteristics of this lesion is provided.


RESULTS
Our literature review revealed 119 previously reported cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma with intracranial involvement. Our case represents only the tenth reported intracranial case with an unknown primary site.


CONCLUSIONS
Although intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma is regarded as rare, we have accumulated over 100 such reports. A wide variety of primary sites and intracranial sites have been described.
Alleyne
C H
CH
Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Bakay
R A
RA
Costigan
D
D
Thomas
B
B
Joseph
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000473:pathology