Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

A rare case of acinic cell carcinoma of minor salivary gland origin within the oral cavity is reported in a 62-year-old woman. These tumors most commonly arise in the parotid gland and follow an insidious course requiring long-term follow-up. The gross and histologic features of the patient's tumor include pseudoencapsulation, mixed solid and acinar architecture, microcyst formation, and the presence of conspicuous diastase-fast and PAS-positive cytoplasmic granules, characteristic of lesions that have been called acinic cell carcinoma by a variety of authors. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. However, following an incisional biopsy, the patient refused further surgical treatment and has remained clinically disease-free three years postoperatively.