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Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a rare form of adenocarcinoma, which is a broad term describing any cancer arising from glandular tissues. AdCC is found mainly in the head and neck, but it can occasionally occur in a woman’s uterus or other sites in the body. It most commonly occurs in the salivary glands, which consist of clusters of cells that secrete saliva scattered throughout the upper aerodig estive tract (the organs and tissues of the upper respiratory tract, including the lips, mouth, tongue, nose, throat, vocal cords, and part of the esophagus and windpipe). A tumor may begin in the:
Minor salivary glands
- Palate (roof of the mouth)
- Nasopharynx (air passageway at the upper part of the throat and behind the nose)
- Tongue base (the back third of the tongue)
- Mucosal lining of the mouth (inner lining of the mouth; glands located here produce mucus)
- Larynx (voicebox)
- Trachea (windpipe)
Major salivary glands
- Parotid (largest salivary gland found on either side of the face in front of the ears)
- Submandibular (found under the jawbone)
- Sublingual glands (in the bottom of the mouth under the tongue)
Besides being classified based on where the cancer begins, AdCC is also described based on the histologic (how cells look under a microscope) variations of the tumor, including cylindroma, cribiform, and solid AdCC. AdCC is sometimes classified as a disease of the minor salivary gland, even though it may begin at other sites.
This section covers AdCC. Learn more about head and neck cancers.
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