Signs and Symptoms
- Presents as painless, slow-growing mass that is firm or hard.
- Most appear clinically as mixed tumors.
- Usually occurs at 30–50 years of age.
- More predilection towards female sex.
Diagnosis
- Histology:
- Tumor is not encapsulated.
- Characterized by squamous cells, mucus-secreting cells, and intermediate cells.
- Molecular biology:
- Mucoepidermoid carcinomas have a recurrent chromosomal translocation resulting in a MECT1-MAML2 fusion gene.
- The fusion gene involves the CREB-binding domain of the CREB coactivator MECT1 and the transactivation domain of the Notch coactivator MAML2.
- Possible association with papillomavirus reported.
Prognosis
- Generally, low-grade tumors have a good prognosis.
- High-grade tumors have a poor prognosis.
- Recent research suggests that recurring low-grade tumors also have a poor prognosis.
Treatment
- Surgery is recommended for localized resectable disease.
- Post-operative radiotherapy can provide local control comparable to complete resection when the tumor is incompletely resected.
- Palliative radiotherapy may be helpful in cases where surgery is not possible or declined by the patient.
- Chemotherapy response tends to be low and short-lived in patients with metastatic disease.
Epidemiology
- Occurs in adults, with peak incidence from 20–40 years of age.
- A causal link with cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been strongly implicated in a 2011 research.
- Relative incidence of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is shown in parotid and submandibular tumors.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common type of minor salivary gland malignancy in adults. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma can also be found in other organs, such as bronchi, lacrimal sac, and thyroid gland.
| Mucoepidermoid carcinoma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Micrograph of a mucoepidermoid carcinoma. FNA specimen. Pap stain. | |
| Specialty | Oncology, Maxillofacial surgery, ENT surgery |
Mucicarmine staining is one stain used by pathologist for detection.
