Acinic cell carcinoma of the posterior wall of the pharynx

Acinic cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 2 to 6% of all salivary gland tumors. It usually originates in the parotid gland; the minor salivary glands and the upper respiratory tract are involved only infrequently. We describe a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the posterior wall of the pharynx in a 21-year-old woman. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of this type of carcinoma at this location to be published in the literature. The mass was excised, and the patient was referred for postoperative radiation therapy to reduce the risk of local recurrence, but she did not keep her appointment and was lost to follow-up.