Carcinoma of the esophagus with adenoid cystic differentiation

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the [human] esophagus is a relatively rare lesion which characteristically exhibits a clinically aggressive behavior. In spite of this aggressive nature, it is most often referred to as a counterpart of the more common adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin, a comparatively indolent tumor. Clinical and pathologic findings in a series of 6 cases of esophageal adenoid cystic carcinomas are contrasted with those of typical salivary gland lesions, and also compared to similar tumors exhibiting adenoid cystic differentiation arising in other extrasalivary gland sites. The esophageal tumors, and certain similar lesions arising in other extrasalivary gland sites, apparently represent a class of poorly differentiated basaloid neoplasms distinct both clinically and morphologically from the common adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin.