Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Maxillary Sinus: Report of a 44-Year Experience of 25 Cases From a Single Institution

PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of all cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) arising in the maxillary sinuses treated in a single institution.Patients and MethodsFrom 1953 to 1997, 18 ACCs and 7 MECs from the maxillary sinus were studied. Clinical data were obtained from the medical records and microscopic slides were reviewed.ResultsMean age was 45.9 years (range, 13 to 77 years) and TNM staging revealed 88.9% of ACCs at advanced clinical stages, while 57.1% of the MECs were initial clinical stages. Surgery combined with radiotherapy was the most common treatment. Follow-up showed 88.8% of ACC patients died from the tumor, while 42.8% of patients with MEC are alive without disease.ConclusionMaxillary sinus ACC and MEC are uncommon tumors and a patient’s prognosis depends on the clinical stage and histologic type; MEC has shown a better outcome.