Treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the mobile tongue with anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction: A case report

RATIONALE: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an infrequent malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. The clinical and pathological characteristics include slow growth, perineural invasion, and local recurrence. ACC of the mobile tongue is rarely reported in the literature. PATIENT CONCERNS: We describe a case of a 43-year-old man patient with numbness and growth in the tongue for 1 month duration. The patient reported a long-term smoking and drinking habit. DIAGNOSES: A biopsy was carried out and histopathological analysis confirmed as diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the head and neck enhanced scanning revealed an ill-defined high density mass with altered enhanced signal entities involving the anterior 2/3rd of the tongue. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. Incision was placed over the anteriorly till 2/3rd of tongue and then the femoral anterolateral free flap was used to repair and reconstruct the defect of tongue. OUTCOME: The patient is currently under a postsurgical 29-month regular follow-up, showing good swallowing and speaking function without any recurrence and metastasis. LESSONS: This case report suggests that surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy are suitable procedures for patients with resectable ACC of the mobile tongue.