[Intra-mandibular location of a adenoid cystic carcinoma. Review of the literature].

An update review of the published data (13 références) concerning primary central mandibular adenoid cystic carcinoma is presented. Those tumors are exceptionally located within mandible: the diagnostic could be evocated in case of body or angle radiolucency of the mandible. The most frequent diagnosis appeared to be an osteolytic odontogenic cyst. Surgical analysis has shown a very friable and low density solid tumor next to mandibular nerve. This pathology has a quiet and long term development (mainly pulmonary metastasis many years later). The best treatment consisted in bone resection. Even though, his origin of this type of carcinoma is still unknown: a consistent hypothesis is made of ectopic embryologic inclusions or of neoplastic mutation of odontogenic cysts.