Biological behaviour of laryngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma. Therapeutic considerations.

Two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the larynx are reported with a review of the world literature. This tumour, though capable of metastasizing via the blood stream to various organs (brain, lung, bone, etc.), seldom spreads to the cervical lymph nodes, usually by direct infiltration. Because of the biological behaviour of the neoplasm, radical neck dissection is not indicated.