J Korean Soc Ther Radiol Oncol.  1999 Dec;17(4):293-298.

Intracranial Extension of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Palate

• Oh YK
• Kee KH

Abstract

Intracranial involvement by adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is very rare and there is no report of intracranial extension from the palate ACC in Korea. Intracranial involvement can occur in one of three ways : direct extension, perineural spread, and hematogenous spread. A case report of a 35-year-old woman with intracranial ACC is presented. Initially she had ACC of the right palate and was treated by surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. Three years and 10 months later, the paresthesia in the distribution of ophthalmic and maxillary branch of right trigeminal nerve developed without evidence of recurrence in CT scan. Ptos and total ophthalmoplegia developed sequentially and the second operation was performed. It was suggested that the tumor was spread perineurally along the trigeminal nerve into the Gasserian ganglion and then cavernous sinus and orbit. Seven years and 6 months after the first operation, direct intracranial extension into the right temporal lobe developed via sphenoid bone, sphenoid sinus and temporal bone and the third operation was done. And then lung metastasis was diagnosed. She is alive for 9 years 5 months after first operation.

Keyword

Adenoud cystic carcinoma of the palate; Intracranial extension

MeSH Terms

Adenoids*
Adult
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic*
Cavernous Sinus
Female
Humans
Korea
Lung
Neoplasm Metastasis
Ophthalmoplegia
Orbit
Palate*
Paresthesia
Recurrence
Sphenoid Bone
Sphenoid Sinus
Temporal Bone
Temporal Lobe
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Trigeminal Ganglion
Trigeminal Nerve