Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in Children: Report of a case and review of literature

抄録

A rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising in a 15-year-old boy is reported. The patient had palatal swelling with tenderness for two years. After a diagnosis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma was obtained by biopsy and CT scan examinations, the patient underwent a partial maxillectomy. Histopathologically, the tumor arising in the palatal mucosa involved the maxillary bone and the base of the right maxillary sinus. The tumor consisted not only of predominantly clear cells and squamous cells in solid nests but also of mucous cells forming various sized cystic cavities. From a review of the literature, mucoepidermoid carcinoma was shown to be the most frequent salivary tumor in children, comprising 3% to 8% of the total numbers of patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. When compared with adult cases, childhood cases more frequently involve the parotid gland and less frequently the minor salivary glands.