Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Synonyms of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

ACC
Adenocystic Carcinoma
Cribriform Carcinoma
Cylindroma

Disorder Subdivisions

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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Organizations related to Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Alliance
PO Box 82
Green Valley AZ 85614
Phone #: 520-625-5495
800 #: --
e-mail: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org
Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma/
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Organization International
5605 77th Street East
Puyallup WA 98371
Phone #: --
800 #: --
e-mail: ddube841@comcast.net
Home page: http://www.orgsites.com/ca/acco
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation
P.O. Box 442
Needham MA 02494
Phone #: 781-248-9699
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@accrf.org
Home page: http://www.accrf.org
American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30329
Phone #: 404-320-3333
800 #: 800-227-2345
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.org
Association of Community Cancer Centers
11600 Nebel Street
Rockville MD 20852
Phone #: 301-984-9496
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.accc-cancer.org
Canadian Cancer Society
10 Alcorn Avenue
Toronto None M4V 3B1
Phone #: (41-6) -961-7223
800 #: (88-8) -939-3333
e-mail: ccs@cancer.ca
Home page: http://www.cancer.ca/
Cancer Hope Network
2 North Road
Chester NJ 07930
Phone #: 908-879-4039
800 #: 877-467-3638
e-mail: info@cancerhopenetwork.org
Home page: http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org
Cancer.Net
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Alexandria VA 22314
Phone #: 571-483-1780
800 #: 888-651-3038
e-mail: contactus@cancer.net
Home page: http://www.cancer.net/patient
Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Arlington VA 22202
Phone #: 703-302-1503
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@focr.org
Home page: http://www.focr.org
International Cancer Alliance for Research and Education
4853 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda MD 20814
Phone #: 301-656-3461
800 #: 800-422-7361
e-mail: info@icare.org
Home page: http://www.icare.org
Lance Armstrong Foundation
PO Box 161550
Austin TX 78716-1150
Phone #: 512-236-8820
800 #: 866-235-7205
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.livestrong.org
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda MD 20892-8322
Phone #: 301-435-3848
800 #: 800-422-6237
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.gov
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
1010 Wayne Avenue
Silver Spring MD 20910-5600
Phone #: 301-650-9127
800 #: 877-622-7937
e-mail: infor@canceradvocacy.org
Home page: http://
OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia PA 19104-4283
Phone #: 215-349-5445
800 #: --
e-mail: editors@oncolink.upenn.edu
Home page: http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu
Rare Cancer Alliance
1649 North Pacana Way
Green Valley AZ 85614
Phone #: 520-625-5495
800 #: --
e-mail: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org
Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org
Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, Inc.
P.O. Box 53
Locust Valley NY 11560-0053
Phone #: 516-759-5333
800 #: --
e-mail: info@spohnc.org
Home page: http://www.spohnc.org
Wellness Community
919 18th Street N.W.
Washington DC 20006
Phone #: 202-659-9709
800 #: 888-793-9355
e-mail: help@thewellnesscommunity.org
Home page: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.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