Acinic cell carcinoma: an unsuspected malignancy of the nasal cavity

Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a low grade malignant tumor of the salivary glands. Primary ACC affects most frequently the parotid gland and can rarely arise in the minor salivary glands of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. It is extremely rare in the nasal cavity; to our knowledge only 18 cases of primary ACC of the nasal cavity are reported in the English-written literature. Herein we report a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity, describe the clinical, radiological and microscopic features of this uncommon presentation and finally provide a discussion in the light of relevant literature.