Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Board Practice Exam

Acinic cell carcinoma is classified as a salivary gland tumor that specifically arises from acinar cells, which are part of the secretory component of the gland. Acinar cells are specialized epithelial cells responsible for the production of saliva in the salivary glands. While the carcinoma originates in glandular tissue, the most precise classification is that it arises from the ductal elements associated with those glands, particularly the acinar component of the glandular ducts.

The emphasis on ductal tissue highlights the specific site within glandular tissue where this tumor develops. Acinic cell carcinoma typically shows differentiation towards the serous acinar cells, making it a tumor derived from ductal structures associated with the glands. Therefore, while glandular tissue forms the broader category from which the tumor arises, focusing on ductal tissue accurately encompasses the specific cellular origin of acinic cell carcinoma.