Chemotherapy with paclitaxel for lung metastases of cystic adenoid carcinoma. A case report and review of the literature

Cystic adenoid carcinoma, which generally develops in the salivary glands, is a rare primary lung tumor. Locoregional treatment classically associates surgery and radiotherapy. Approximately half of the patients develop metastases; appropriate treatment with chemotherapy remains to be defined. We report the case of a woman who developed lung and pleural metastases of a right submaxillary cystic adenoid carcinoma. Chemotherapy with paclitaxel provided partial tumor response after three cycles. We present a review of the literature on chemotherapy for cystic adenoid carcinoma.