Importance of Early Diagnosis and Favorable Prognosis in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a malignant salivary gland neoplasm, which corresponds to less than 3% of all tumors of the head and neck, with a predilection for the parotid gland. It occurs in a wide age group, with only 5% of the patients under age 18 years. The diagnosis of salivary gland tumors requires differentiated attention and knowledge because of the relatively low incidence, difficulty in differential diagnosis, and little symptomatology. This report describes a 19-year-old woman with an early diagnosis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma with a low degree of malignancy on the palate, as determined by incisional biopsy and computed tomography of the face. The treatment was surgical resection, which showed free tumor margins. The patient is in 1-year postoperative follow-up. This emphasizes the importance of dentists in the early diagnosis for a favorable prognosis and possibilities of treatment with lower morbidity.