Radiographic evaluation of bone invasion of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the oral and maxillofacial region.

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between clinicopathologic features and bone invasion in adenoid cystic carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma were included. Of 17 patients with suspected bone invasion based on clinical and/or radiographic findings, 13 also underwent histologic evaluation.

RESULTS

Bone invasion was detected in nine patients. Bone involvement was radiographically classified as erosive, diffuse invasive, or minimal change. No tumor infiltration into the surrounding bone marrow spaces was observed in the erosive-type tumors. However, tumor invasion through the resorbed cortex was observed with the diffuse invasive tumors and through the bone defects in the minimal change tumors.

CONCLUSION

Histologically, diffuse invasive radiographic change was observed with solid lesions. However, minimal bone resorption was observed on radiographs of the glandular lesions, even when the tumor cells had infiltrated extensively into the bone marrow spaces. In the tumors of the tubular type, all three radiographic types were observed.