Adenoid cystic carcinoma of sublingual gland involving the submandibular duct

We report an unusual case of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) arising in the sublingual gland and extending into the submandibular duct. Our article mainly describes the MR findings. The margin of the mass was well-defined and the mass was divided into two parts - anterior and posterior. The anterior part of the mass showed isointense to surrounding muscle on T(1) weighted images and hyperintense on fat-saturated T(2) weighted images. The posterior part of the mass showed hyperintense both on T(1) weighted and fat-saturated T(2) weighted images. The findings indicated that the cystic space of the posterior part was filled with tumour mass which extended from the anterior part. ACC of the sublingual gland extending into the submandibular duct is rare and the MR findings have not been previously described in the literature.