Proton therapy achieves high-dose tumor control with organ preservation in complex metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma: a case report of a refractory patient with 16 pulmonary metastases.

ABSTRACT: Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) is characterized by its aggressive nature, high propensity for perineural invasion, and significant risk of distant metastasis, particularly to the lungs. Therapeutic options for locally advanced or metastatic ACC are limited, and conventional radiotherapy is often constrained by dose limitations for multifocal disease, leading to inadequate treatment. A 54-year-old male ACC patient, who had recurred after three prior surgeries, presented with PET/CT-confirmed bilateral cervical lymph node and multiple bilateral pulmonary metastases. Given the multifocal metastases and the critical need for sparing organs at risk (lungs, heart, esophagus), which rendered photon radiotherapy unable to meet the required dose constraints, proton therapy was employed with the fol

SUBMITTER: Lu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631414 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature