Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Hard Palate: A Case Report

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate in a patient with a history of neuroblastoma: A case report and a review of the literature

“…MEC, an uncommon tumor that makes up less than 0.5% of all malignancies and 10%–15% of all neoplasms of the salivary gland, was reclassified by the WHO as a malignant neoplasm in 1990 1,2 . It usually occurs in the third to sixth decade of life 3 . Thus, some other studies mention the age range from 6 to 90 years with an average age of 51–56 4 .…”

“…This tumor occurs anatomically at the junction between the hard/soft palate, and the deep part of the tumor is usually supported by the hard palate bone 4 . From slow‐growing swelling with no symptoms to severe swelling and even soreness, otorrhoea, dysphagia, trismus, and facial paralysis, the clinical presentation varies greatly 3,6 . In high‐grade MEC, ulcers, underlying bone loss, numbness of adjacent teeth, loose teeth, and root resorption may be observed 3 …”

“…4 From slowgrowing swelling with no symptoms to severe swelling and even soreness, otorrhoea, dysphagia, trismus, and facial paralysis, the clinical presentation varies greatly. 3,6 In high-grade MEC, ulcers, underlying bone loss, numbness of adjacent teeth, loose teeth, and root resorption may be observed. 3 The etiology of these tumors is not completely clear, but there are several risk factors, including female gender, radiation exposure, tobacco use, genetic predisposition (chromosomal translocation [11; 19][q21;p13]) leading to a MECT-MAML2 gene fusion, viruses, and environmental chemicals were proposed.…”

“…4 Women (approximately 1.5 times more than men) can be affected by this type of lesion more frequently. 3 This tumor occurs in approximately 53% of the cases in the main salivary glands (mostly in the parotid gland, and then the submandibular gland) and with a lower probability of involvement of the minor salivary glands (most usually the palate, and to a lesser extent…”

“…3,6 In high-grade MEC, ulcers, underlying bone loss, numbness of adjacent teeth, loose teeth, and root resorption may be observed. 3 The etiology of these tumors is not completely clear, but there are several risk factors, including female gender, radiation exposure, tobacco use, genetic predisposition (chromosomal translocation [11; 19][q21;p13]) leading to a MECT-MAML2 gene fusion, viruses, and environmental chemicals were proposed. 1 A more uncommon occurrence is when many benign or malignant salivary gland tumors, or a mix of benign and malignant tumors, and very rarely multiple malignant tumors, develop concurrently in distinct salivary glands or in the same gland.…”