Adenocarcinomas of the oral cavity: a clinicopathologic study of terminal duct carcinomas.

A clinico-pathologic study of 12 patients, each harboring a hitherto not delineated adenocarcinoma of salivary origin is presented. The authors have designated this histologically unique carcinoma as 'terminal duct adenocarcinoma' in deference not only to its light-optic appearance, but also to a putative origin from the reserve cells (epithelial and myoepithelial) of the intercalated duct. The tumors' local invasive properties with extension into nerves and adjacent bone suggest their biologic behavior is like that of adenoid cystic carcinomas.