Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• ACC
• Adenocystic Carcinoma
• Cribriform Carcinoma
• Cylindroma

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

This disease entry was made possible due to the generosity of the Kathleen Keany Memorial Foundation, 8502 East Chapman Avenue, Suite 195, Orange, CA 92869, (714) 538-6920.



Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare form of cancer that most commonly develops in the salivary glands or other regions of the head and neck. In some cases, ACC may arise in other primary sites, such as the skin; the breast; the neck of the uterus (cervix) in females; the prostate gland in males; or other areas.



The term "cancer" refers to a group of diseases characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled cellular growth that invades surrounding tissues and may spread (metastasize) to distant bodily tissues or organs via the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, or other means. Different forms of cancer, including adenoid cystic carcinoma, may be classified based upon the cell type involved, the specific nature of the malignancy, the tissues or organs affected, and the disease's clinical course.



ACC tumors are characterized by a distinctive pattern in which abnormal "nests" or cords of certain cells (epithelial cells) surround and/or infiltrate ducts or glandular structures within the affected organ. These structures are typically filled with a mucous-like material or contain abnormal fibrous membranes (hyaline membranes). Such characteristics are apparent during microscopic evaluation of the tumor cells. ACC is considered a low-grade malignancy that has a history of slow growth, but tends to be aggressively invasive and to infiltrate nearby lymph nodes as well as the "sheaths" or coatings surrounding nerve fibers (perineural spaces). This form of cancer may have a tendency to recur later at the site where it first developed (local recurrence) and to spread to distant bodily sites, particularly the lungs, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications.

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Resources

American Cancer Society, Inc.

1599 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

USA

Tel: 4043203333

Tel: 8002272345

Internet: http://www.cancer.org



National Cancer Institute

6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

USA

Tel: 3014353848

Tel: 8004226237

TDD: 8003328615

Internet: http://www.cancer.gov



National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

1010 Wayne Avenue

Suite770

Silver Spring, MD 20910-5600

Tel: (301)650-9127

Fax: (301)565-9670

Tel: (877)622-7937

Email: infor@canceradvocacy.org

Internet: http:// www.canceradvocacy.org



Cancer Hope Network

2 North Road

Suite A

Chester, NJ 07930

Tel: (908)879-4039

Fax: (908)879-6518

Tel: (877)467-3638

Email: info@cancerhopenetwork.org

Internet: http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org



Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, Inc.

P.O. Box 53

Locust Valley, NY 11560-0053

USA

Tel: 5167595333

Fax: 5166718794

Email: info@spohnc.org

Internet: http://www.spohnc.org



OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource

3400 Spruce Street

2 Donner

Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283

USA

Tel: 2153495445

Fax: 2153495445

Email: editors@oncolink.upenn.edu

Internet: http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu



Association of Community Cancer Centers

11600 Nebel Street

#201

Rockville, MD 20852

Tel: (301)984-9496

Fax: (301)770-1949

Internet: http://www.accc-cancer.org



Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Alliance

PO Box 82

1649 N. Pacana Way

Green Valley, AZ 85614

USA

Tel: 5206255495

Fax: 9516093982

Email: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org

Internet: http://www.rare-cancer.org/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma/



Canadian Cancer Society

10 Alcorn Avenue

Suite 200

Toronto

Toronto, M4V 3B1

Canada

Tel: (416) 961-7223

Fax: (416) 961-4189

Tel: (888) 939-3333

Email: ccs@cancer.ca

Internet: http://www.cancer.ca/



International Cancer Alliance for Research and Education

4853 Cordell Avenue

Suite 14

Bethesda, MD 20814

Tel: (301)656-3461

Fax: (301)654-8684

Tel: (800)422-7361

Email: info@icare.org

Internet: http://www.icare.org



Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Organization International

PO Box 15482

San Diego, CA 92175

USA

Email: accoi_info@yahoo.com

Internet: http://www.orgsites.com/ca/acco



Rare Cancer Alliance

1649 North Pacana Way

Green Valley, AZ 85614

USA

Tel: 5206255495

Fax: 6155264921

Email: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org

Internet: http://www.rare-cancer.org



Friends of Cancer Research

2231 Crystal Drive

Suite 200

Arlington, VA 22202

Tel: (703)302-1503

Fax: (703)302-1568

Email: info@focr.org

Internet: http://www.focr.org



Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation

P.O. Box 442

Needham, MA 02494

Tel: (781)248-9699

Email: info@accrf.org

Internet: http://www.accrf.org



Cancer.Net

American Society of Clinical Oncology

2318 Mill Road

Suite 800

Alexandria, VA 22314

Tel: (571)483-1780

Fax: (571)366-9537

Tel: (888)651-3038

Email: contactus@cancer.net

Internet: http://www.cancer.net/patient



Wellness Community

919 18th Street N.W.

Suite 54

Washington, DC 20006

Tel: (202)659-9709

Fax: (202)659-9301

Tel: (888)793-9355

Email: help@thewellnesscommunity.org

Internet: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org



Lance Armstrong Foundation

PO Box 161550

Austin, TX 78716-1150

Tel: (512)236-8820

Fax: (512)236-8482

Tel: (866)235-7205

Internet: http://www.livestrong.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  5/10/2008

Copyright  1999, 2001, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Last updated:	May 10, 2008