Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a low-grade malignant salivary neoplasm that constitutes approximately 17% of primary salivary gland malignancies. In the head and neck region, the parotid gland is the predominant site of origin and women are usually more frequently diagnosed than men. Previous radiation exposure and familial predisposition are some of the risk factors for ACC. A slowly enlarging mass lesion in the tail of the parotid gland is the most frequent presentation. The diagnosis is usually confirmed with a fine needle aspiration biopsy, and surgical excision is the main treatment of this malignant neoplasm. Other treatment modalities such as radiotherapy may be indicated in some cases. ACC has a significant tendency to recur, to produce metastases (cervical lymph nodes and lungs), and may have an aggressive evolution. Therefore, long-term follow-up is mandatory after treatment.

IntroductionWe report an observational study on the etiology and recurrence of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland that seemed to be related to pregnancy. The medical literature has never reported such an association; therefore, our case report is probably the first to mention this observation.Case presentationThis report is of a 25-year-old Arabic female patient from the United Arab Emirates, who, during her first pregnancy, developed acinic cell carcinoma of the right parotid gland that was managed with surgical excision in the form of superficial parotidectomy. During her second pregnancy, which occurred four years later, she had a recurrence of the same malignant neoplasm associated with ipsilateral malignant cervical lymphadenopathy. The patient was managed with total parotidectomy and neck dissection, as well as postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. Our observation on this particular case of acinic cell carcinoma is that the initial onset of her neoplasm was during her first pregnancy, and the recurrence of the same malignant disease was during a subsequent pregnancy. This chronologic association raised our suspicion that there might be a possible etiologic effect of pregnancy or its associated hormonal or physiologic changes or both on the pathogenesis or etiology of acinic cell carcinoma.ConclusionSome association might exist between pregnancy and the pathogenesis or etiology of acinic cell carcinoma.