A case report of adenoid cystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor that can exist in many different body sites. It is most commonly found in the areas of the head and neck, (mainly salivary glands). It is also reported in the breast, lacrimal glands of the eye, lung, brain, sinuses. It is characterized by a prolonged clinical course and fatal outcome. It was first described as `cylindroma′ by Billroth in 1859. The long natural history and its tendency for local recurrence is well known. Patients may survive for years with metastases because this tumor is generally well differentiated and slow growing. We report a case of ACC of lacrimal gland. They are rare malignant tumors in a patient presenting with an orbital mass. They account for 1.6% of all orbital tumors. Despite their rarity, they are the second most frequent epithelial neoplasms occurring in the lacrimal gland after pleomorphic adenomas.