Unusual Presentation of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Tongue: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor that affects the salivary glands. Its notable characteristics include aggressive local growth, infiltration of nerves (perineural invasion), a propensity to disseminate to other parts of the body (metastasize), and a high likelihood of recurrence. Here, we present the case of a 71-year-old male patient who presented with swelling on the posterior left side of his tongue, which had been causing him difficulty in chewing for the past six months. The parotid gland is frequently impacted in the head and neck area, with the tongue being comparatively uncommon. While distant metastasis is frequent, metastasis to nearby lymph nodes is not as common. However, if it does occur, it is associated with a poor prognosis and reduces the average survival age of the patient. The preferred treatment for ACC is surgical removal with wide resected margins. If it metastasizes to lymph nodes, then adjunct therapy is the treatment modality for the lesion. ACC exhibits three histopathological patterns: solid, tubular, and cribriform. The solid type is associated with a poorer prognosis compared to cribriform type, which typically has a better prognosis. This case, occurring on the tongue, is rare.