Paediatric mucoepidermoid carcinoma of palate: Literature review and report of a case

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant tumor in salivary glands. About 70% of these tumors are found in the parotid gland, 15 to 20% in the oral cavity, mostly in the palate, and 6 to 10% in the submandibular gland. MEC has female predilection and the mean age at onset is in the 5th decade of life. The treatment decision depends on the histopathology (Low-grade, Intermediate-grade, High-grade). A 12 year-old male with a right palatal tumor, having no association with vital teeth arrived at our service centre. The excisional biopsy reported was: MEC Intermediate-grade. Because few cases of MEC in Paediatric patients have been reported, a review of the literature, with range of age 0-17 years, was made, 24 patients with diagnosis of MEC in Palate, included our case, were found, the average age was 14 (29%), the predilection in genre was female with 19 cases (79%), and 5 cases in Male (21%). MEC has a female predilection and is uncommon in the first decade of life but should be considered even in paediatric patients. The prognosis depends on the clinical stage, grade of the tumor, location, and adequacy of treatment. The presence of nodal disease and distant metastases implies a poor prognosis.