ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMAS OF THE MAXILLAR Y SINUS WITH INTRACRANIAL EXTENSION - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We report a case of adenocystic carcinoma (cylindroma) of the maxillar y sinus with intracranial extension in a 35-year-old man with no previ ous clinical history. The patient underwent primary neurological and m axillofacial surgery. He then developed two successive recurrences of the tumor in the temporo-parietal area of the brain treated by surgery and radiotherapy for the first one and surgery alone for the second. The patient finally died 4 years and 2 months after the diagnosis. Ade noid cystic carcinomas are malignant epithelial neoplasms that arise m ainly from salivary glands (14 % of the salivary tumors), and less fre quently from other structures. Their histological pattern can be eithe r tubular, cribriform or solid, with different prognosis. They invade local areas (perineural spaces) and also metastasize to the lung, live r, bone, regional lymph nodes. Treatment mainly consists in combined s urgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy might be also used.