Nasopharyngeal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: Report of Five Cases and Treatment Outcome

Background: The present study aimed to report the characteristics and treatment outcomes of five patients with nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma and a literature review.Methods: Between ۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۹, five consecutive patients (۴ men, ۱ woman) were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma and treated at our institution. Three patients had stage IVa (T۴N۰M۰) and two patients had stage III (T۳N۰M۰) cancer. Primary treatment consisted of concurrent chemoradiation in three patients and radiotherapy alone in two patients. Surgery was limited to endoscopic biopsy for histological diagnosis.Results: Four patients achieved complete response during or after completion of treatment and remained free of disease for a median of ۲۷ months. Four patients developed local recurrence ۸-۳۰ months after initial treatment. The fifth patient is alive and free of disease.Conclusion: The findings of the present study and literature review suggest that local failure is a major problem in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx.