Acinic cell carcinoma of salivary glands: 16 cases with clinicopathologic correlation

Sixteen cases of acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) of salivary glands were studied and their different clinicopathologic aspects were analysed. ACC occurred more frequently in the 5th and 6th decades of life, and was seen exclusively in major salivary glands. The main complaint of the patients was the presence of a mass, and the majority of the tumors were Stage III and IV when first seen in our institution. The tumors were divided into three histologic grades based on cellular pleomorphism, mitotic activity, and necrosis. This study showed correlation between prognosis and grading. Other important factors in the prognosis were the type of treatment and the duration of symptoms. Surgical resection with free margins is the treatment of choice.