Dermatology Online Journal

Saco, Michael; Howe, Nicole; Jukic, Drazen M; & Muro-Cacho, Carlos. (2014). Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Base of the Tongue Metastasizing to the Scalp. Dermatology Online Journal, 20(3). doj_21728. Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6141j293

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare neoplasm that originates from secretory glands, most commonly from the salivary glands. We present a 76 year-old white man with a history of adenoid cystic carcinoma from the base of the tongue diagnosed 15 years prior to the development of the metastatic lesion on his mid-posterior scalp. The present case represents the second reported instance of an extracutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasizing to the scalp. Differentiating between a primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma and an extracutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasizing to cutaneous structures is crucial in determining prognosis and management.