title: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland with symptomatic ovarian metastases.
abstract: We report the clinical and pathologic features of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland that metastasized to the ovaries 10 years after initial presentation. A 30-year-old woman underwent excision of a right submandibular adenoid cystic carcinoma followed by regional external beam radiation therapy. Three years later, she underwent extended hepatic resection and localized radiotherapy to the hepatic region for metastatic disease. The patient was without evidence of disease for 7 years when she developed pelvic pain and a pelvic mass was found. A solid and cystic 10-cm left ovarian mass and a single metastatic tumor nodule involving the right ovary were excised via the laparoscope. Histologically, the tumor was identical to the patient's initial salivary gland neoplasm. The neoplastic cells were CAM 5.2 positive, S100 positive, muscle-specific actin positive, and smooth muscle actin positive. Ultrastructurally, characteristic pseudocysts (pseudolumina) with abundant basal lamina and true glandular lumina lined by short microvilli were present. Other than a single anecdotal account of a parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, this case represents the first documented report of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin that was associated with symptomatic ovarian metastases. This case demonstrates that the ovary is a potential site for metastatic disease many years following the diagnosis and treatment for a primary neoplasm however uncommon or remote the site of origin. Since metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma can rarely present as an ovarian mass, a clinical history of this neoplasm should be heavily weighed in the differential diagnosis of any unusual ovarian tumor with a predominant cribriform, trabecular, or tubular pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Longacre
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Hanlan
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hendrickson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013365:Submandibular Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery