Acinic cell carcinoma is a tumor most commonly found in the parotid gland. The disease presents as a slow growing mass, sometimes associated with pain or tenderness.

These tumors which resemble serous acinar cells vary in their behavior from locally aggressive to blatantly malignant.

It can also appear in the breast. The pancreatic form of acinic cell carcinoma is a rare subtype of exocrine pancreatic cancer. Exocrine pancreatic cancers are the most common form of pancreatic cancer when compared to endocrine pancreatic cancer. ^[1]

Acinic cell carcinomas arise most frequently in the parotid gland. Other sites of primary tumors have included the submandibular gland and other major and minor salivary glands. There have been rare cases of primary tumors involving the parapharyngeal space and the sublingual gland.

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Epidemiology

Acinic cell carcinoma appears in all age groups, but presents at a younger median age (approx. 52 years) than most other salivary gland cancers. Occurrences in children are quite common.

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Acinic cell carcinoma of the lung

Acinic cell carcinoma of the lung is a very rare variant of lung cancer that, in this organ, is classified among the salivary gland-like carcinoma of the lung. Fewer than 1% of malignancies beginning in the lower respiratory tract are acinic cell carcinomas.^[2]

Prognosis

Prognosis is good for acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland, with 5-yr survival rates approaching is 90%, and 20-year survival exceeding 50%.

The prognosis of an acinic cell carcinoma originating in the lung is much more guarded than cases of this rare histotype occurring in most other organs, but is still considerably better than for other types of lung cancer.^[2]

Treatment

a) Various levels of surgery, often with post-operative radiation therapy. b) Neutron beam radiation c) Conventional radiation d) Chemotherapy

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Additional images

<gallery> Image:Acinic cell carcinoma.jpg | Micrograph of acinic cell carcinoma. Pap stain. Fine needle aspiration specimen. Image:Acinic cell carcinoma - intermed mag.jpg | Intermed. mag. Image:Acinic cell carcinoma - very high mag.jpg | Very high mag. </gallery>

References

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2. ↑ ^{a b}

• Kahn, Michael A. Basic Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Volume 1. 2001.

"Acinic Cell Carcinoma Overview." Acinic Cell Carcinoma Information Center. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. <http://www.aciniccell.org/overview.html>.

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