Distant metastases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands and the value of diagnostic examinations during follow‐up

Abstract

Distant metastases of ACC of the salivary glands occur most often in the lungs. Although these lung metastases are the first to occur, these patients die later than patients with distant metastases in other organs. The value of annual chest films or other tests for the presence of distant metastases during follow-up after surgical removal of an ACC seems rather questionable.