Growth of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid during pregnancy: a case report

Background: The association between pregnancy and growth of salivary gland malignancies has not been well elucidated due to the paucity of reports in the literature. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck is known to share histologic characteristics with adenocarcinomas of the breast. A small number of studies have found varying degrees of positive expression of both estrogen and progresterone receptors within adenoid cystic carcinoma. While a few case reports have observed a link between pregnancy and salivary gland tumour growth, none have reported on growth of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland under such circumstances. Case presentation: A 31-year-old Chinese woman presented with growth of a right parotid lesion during pregnancy that was associated with facial nerve palsy and neuropathy of the post-auricular skin. On MRI, the mass was adjacent to the stylomastoid foramen and there was evidence of perineural invasion of the facial and greater auricular nerves. A fine needle aspirate biopsy confirmed adenoid cystic carcinoma. She underwent right radical parotidectomy, ipsilateral neck dissection, temporal bone resection and primary neurorrhaphy of facial nerve branches with adjuvant radiotherapy. Conclusion: This article represents the third reported case of salivary gland malignancy growth during pregnancy and the first case of adenoid cystic carcinoma. With a focus towards adding to a body of literature examining an association between pregnancy and salivary gland tumors, our report may stimulate interest in better understanding the complex biological behavior of such tumors. *Correspondence to: Kevin Higgins, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Room M1 102, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada, E-mail: Kevin.Higgins@sunnybrook.ca