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Case Reports
. 2011 Jan;1(1):66-9.
doi: 10.4103/2231-0746.83161.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma presenting as a retromolar mucocele

Mahesh Kumar Ranganath  1 , Veeresh Matmari, Umashankar D Narayanaswamy, Radhika M Bavle
Affiliations
Case Reports

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma presenting as a retromolar mucocele

Mahesh Kumar Ranganath et al. Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

A 44 year old female presented with an intraoral soft tissue swelling in the retromolar region, which was painless, mobile and fluctuant in nature. Computed tomography as well as preoperative ultrasound revealed thick walled cystic lesion. The lesion was clinically diagnosed as mucocele. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration was done, which revealed turbid, straw colour fluid. This cystic swelling was completely excised and histopathologically identified to be low grade Mucoepidermoid carcinoma. This unusual presentation of Mucoepidermoid carcinoma as an intraoral cyst is one of the rare and unique reported case.

Keywords: Cyst; malignant minor salivary gland tumor; mucocele; mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical photograph showing intraoral soft tissue swelling in the left retromolar region bluish in colour with diffuse margins and stretched mucous membrane.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Computed Tomography (CT) scan showing a cystic lesion present medial to the angle of the mandible.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Contrast CT scan showing cystic lesion medial to the angle of the mandible measuring 1.5 cm × 2.6 cm.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Gross examination showing a cystic lesion, roughly oval in shape, creamish brown in color, and nodular surface.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Photomicrograph showing malignant epidermoid cells, intermediate cells and mucous cells forming microcystic areas. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate is seen (H and E, 10×).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Photomicrograph showing syncytial arrangement of intermediate cells, and presence of columnar, mucous, and epidermoid cells (H and E, 10×).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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