Note: This page was last updated on Wednesday 15th of May 2013
There are a number of common types of cancerous tumors that tend to develop throughout various parts of the body tissue, however, some cancers are quite rare.
Among those include none other than adenoid cystic carcinoma, also referred to as AdCC. The war against cancer has been an ongoing battle that unfortunately plagues humanity since it is a disease that is most frequently diagnosed.
Finding a cure for cancer is considered a top priority and future goal by many of today’s scientists and
we as a society continue to remain optimistic. In fact, this ultimate achievement is expected to occur within a matter of the next few decades. With the constant improvements of advanced medical research and technologies, this breakthrough should surely happen.
In addition, AdCC generally nests in the salivary glands but can be found in areas including the brain, the eye, AdCC of the breasts, trachea, lungs and even the paranasal sinuses. It is prone to spreading along the nerve cells or throughout the bloodstream and can often times spread to other bodily sites from its origin.
While symptoms differ based on the actual site of origin of the tumor, treatment and management options will vary depending on the type of cancer diagnosed, respectively.
Although extremely uncommon, adenoid cystic carcinomas exist throughout several parts of the human body but the more frequent body sites include areas around both the neck and head. AdCC is also referred to as the following terms:
- ACC
- adenocyst
- adenosystic
- adenoidcystic
- malignant cylidroma
Although it is not a benign disease, this type of cancer progresses in a slow pace over several years while other cases tend to be far more aggressive.
Spreading throughout the lungs can create life-threatening ramifications. Despite no indication of any specific environmental or genetic factors including genetic abnormalities associated with adenoid cystic carcinoma prognosis, it is known that this type of cancer can impair DNA, which is not uncommon with the majority of cancers.
Key ways to diagnose a patient is to identify any of the three forms of growth patterns associated with AdCC. These include cribriform, tubular and solid growth patterns. Adenocyst can then be diagnosed by the biopsy sample from the tumor via way of histologic analysis.
Sometimes these cases may be painless as seen around the mouth and face, on the contrary, other instances present in the lungs or larynx can easily create speech and breathing complications.
Due to the nature of this carcinoma, surgical removal of the affected gland or tumor, with clear margins if possible, regardless of its location is the primary treatment for this particular cancer, however, there are other forms of treatment.
Although immunotherapy is not an option, radiation may sometimes be a preferred and effective choice, considering adenoid cystic cancer is radiosensitive. In addition, clinical trials for chemotherapy treatment are ongoing and also a potential form of treatment for malignant cylidroma, however, currently there is no current form of chemotherapy effective for unresectable AdCC and metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Another form of this cancer is primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma. Misinterpreted as metastatic lesions, much of the tumor is usually located on the scalp, vulva, or chest of middle to older aged individuals.
While this type of disease remains rare, it is still life-threatening and must not be taken lightly. In time, hopefully all cancers will be treatable.
