Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma at the base of the tongue presented with metastatic disease in the absence of myoepithelial anaplasia.

Abstract

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a biphasic low-grade malignant tumor that shows ductal structures lined by the ductal cells with surrounding myoepithelial cells. EMC is most commonly reported in the parotid gland followed by other major and minor salivary glands. EMC of the tongue is an extremely uncommon tumor, with only five previously published case reports. We herein report the sixth case of EMC of the tongue. A 40-year-old female who had throat pain, dysphagia, and right earache for 3 years showed a 4 cm × 4 cm nodular tumor at the base of her tongue. Histopathological and immunohistochemical features were diagnostic of EMC with cervical lymph node metastasis. The metastatic behavior of EMC of the tongue in the absence of myoepithelial anaplasia or high-grade histological features is unusual and reported in this case report for the first time.