Metastasis of Primary Cutaneous Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma to the Nasal Septum after 17 years: A Case Report

Abstract

Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma (PCACC) is extremely rare, and although distant metastasis has been reported, to date, there are no reports regarding metastasis to the nasal septum. We report a rare case of PCACC that metastasized to the nasal septum 17 years after the first surgery in a 59-year-old woman. She initially presented with a mass under the skin of her left mammary papilla. After a biopsy revealed the presence of an adenoid cystic carcinoma, the tumor was excised and definitively diagnosed as a PCACC. Five years after surgery, the patient presented with left lung metastasis and underwent a partial resection of the left lung. However, 8 years after this procedure, the patient had to undergo a partial resection of the right lung because of right lung metastasis. Four years thereafter, the patient presented with nasal septal metastasis. The tumor was excised successfully using a combined technique integrating intranasal and extranasal approaches. The patient is currently undergoing regular follow-up tests. Thus, in such cases, lifelong follow-up is necessary while checking for both distant metastasis and instances of local recurrence.

Keywords

• adenoid cystic carcinoma
• primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma
• nasal septal metastasis
• combined approach