An unusual case of adenoid cystic carcinoma with hard palate perforation

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant tumor which occurs frequently in hard palate associated with minor salivary glands. The lesion generally presents as a painful slow growing mass and it is characterized by recurrences and distant metastasis resulting in a poor prognosis for the patient. This paper reports an atypical adenoid cystic carcinoma with palatal perforation which occurred in a young woman. Initial diagnostic hypothesis were necrotizing sialometaplasia and lues. Although adenoid cystic carcinoma is common in hard palate, cases with palatal perforation are uncommon and may lead to delay in diagnosis and therapy.