Adenoid cystic corcinoma of the base of the tongue

Salivary gland tumours are rare, and majority occur in the parotid gland. Minör salivary gland tumors are approx- imately 10 times less frequent than the majör salivary gland tumors. However they have a higher incidence of malignancy. The most common site of malignant minör salivary gland tumors is the hard palate. The base of tongue is the second common site. The majority of these tumours are adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepider- moid carcinoma. We present here a 53-year-old female with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the base of the tongue as a rare case. The literatüre was revievved and characteristics of this tümör are discussed