Baseline prognostic factors affecting survival in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma

•Baseline prognostic factors affecting survival in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.•Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare, indolent malignancy with poor long-term survival.•Baseline features should be considered in prognostic stratification of relapses.•Baseline lymphovascular invasion independently affected survival of relapsed patients.•Adjuvant radiotherapy in the primary setting increases survival in recurrent patients.•Whenever feasible, salvage surgery of locoregional recurrence should be pursued.