Massive pleural effusion as isolated manifestation of metastatic spread of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a low-grade malignant neoplasm that arises preferentially in the major and/or minor salivary glands. While it has a tendency to spread locally, distant metastases have been described occasionally. This case report describes a patient with a massive pleural effusion as primary manifestation of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. This is a very uncommon, yet treatable, occurrence.