title: Clinical review--breast adenoid cystic carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the published literature on the diagnosis and management of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers were identified by searching PubMed using the terms « adenoid cystic carcinoma » and « breast ». Additional papers were identified by reviewing references of relevant articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACC of the breast is a rare tumour comprising less than 0.1% of breast malignancies. Its cellular origin in the breast remains unclear. The histological characteristics of ACC in the breast are similar to those of ACC of the salivary glands. However the prognosis of ACC of the breast is better than that of other localizations with prolonged survival. Breast-conserving treatment including postoperative radiotherapy seems to be equivalent to mastectomy alone with respect to survival. The value of adjuvant systemic therapies is not established. Late relapses can occur, so long-term follow-up is mandatory for these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACC of the breast has a favourable prognosis. An accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are therefore important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hôpital de Sion, CHCVs, Grand-Champsec 80, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland. nboujelbene@gmail.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boujelbene
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khabir
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boujelbene
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jeanneret Sozzi
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Mirimanoff
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khanfir
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans