Adenoid cystic carcinoma arising from and localized within peripheral bronchiole

Herein, we report an adenoid cystic carcinoma that arose from and localized within the peripheral airway area. A 57-year-old woman underwent a routine roentgenogram of the chest during an annual examination, which revealed an oval-shaped mass near the right hilum. Thereafter, chest CT scan findings led to a suspicion of lung cancer. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a tumor in the right B6c and a biopsy specimen from the tumor revealed adenocarcinoma. A right lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection were performed, which revealed a tumor 3.6 × 2.6 cm in diameter arising from a peripheral bronchiole beyond the subsegmental bronchus, showing endobronchial growth, and localized within the bronchus . Histological findings demonstrated an adenoid cystic carcinoma, pT2N0M0 stage IB. Postoperative examinations of other organs, including the salivary glands, breasts, and uterine cervix, did not disclose the presence of neoplastic lesions.