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Case Reports
. 2015 Feb;35(1):58-61.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the base of tongue

M Mesolella  1 , M Iengo  1 , D Testa  2 , A M DI Lullo  1 , G Salzano  3 , F A Salzano  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the base of tongue

M Mesolella et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2015 Feb.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant, locally-invasive tumour of the salivary glands, and accounts for approximately 35% of all malignancies of the major and minor salivary gland. Minor salivary glands are scattered in different areas of the oral cavity such as palate, retromolar area, floor of the mouth, buccal mucosa, lips and tongue. MECs of tongue base are not common. We present a rare case of MEC localised at the tongue base in a 42-year-old Caucasian woman and discuss the histopathological types, management and review the literature. Adequate intra-oral excision was the treatment of choice in this case and in low-grade MEC. Prognosis of MEC is a function of the histological grade, adequacy of excision and clinical staging.

Il carcinoma mucoepidermoide è il più comune tumore maligno, localmente invasivo delle ghiandole salivari. Esso si presenta approssimativamente nel 35% di tutti i tumori delle ghiandole salivari maggiori e minori. Per le ghiandole salivari minori si localizza principalmente nella cavità orale, nel palato, nell'area retro molare, nel pavimento della bocca, sulla mucosa buccale, sulle labbra e sulla lingua. Il carcinoma muco epidermoide della base della lingua è alquanto raro. Presentiamo un raro caso di carcinoma muco epidermoide della base della lingua occorso in una donna di 42 anni giunta alla nostra osservazione. Un'adeguata escissione del tumore per via intraorale ha rappresentato il trattamento più adeguato per il nostro caso e per i carcinomi muco epidermoidi a basso grado di malignità. In generale la prognosi del carcinoma muco epidermoide è in relazione al grado istologico, all'adeguatezza dell'escissione chirurgica e allo stadio clinico.

Keywords: Intra-oral approach; Minor salivary glands; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Tongue base.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Asymptomatic, non-ulcerated, firm, exophytic, oval mass on the dorsal surface in the right posterior-lateral base of the tongue.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
MRI shows an irregular oval-shaped mass, 3 cm in diameter, arising from the right tongue base.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Complete transoral excision of nodular lesion with intact overlying mucosa. Histological examination confirmed low-grade MEC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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