Nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma, suggestion of therapeutic innovations: A case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION: Nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare tumor. Compared with others nasopharyngeal tumors, it is characterised by slow evolution but it is locally aggressive and has a high tendency to recurrences. Due to the rarity of cases, no consensus exists about treatment approaches. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: We report the case of a 55-year-old-woman, with a locally advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma. The patient was operated by endoscopic surgery, received radiation and had a good objective response. The follow-up showed no local recurrence after one year. CONCLUSION: The aim of this work is to review the literature concerning this rare malignancy, and discusses treatment approaches in initial situations and during recurrences. We supported the interest of the intraoperative neuronavigation system for surgical safety.