Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva: report of a case in a 36-year-old with paranasal sinus invasion

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare, highly invasive tumor of the conjunctiva that occurs in elderly persons. Although clinically indistinguishable from squamous cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma is more likely to recur following excision and to invade the eye. The following case report describes a 36-year-old man with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the right caruncle that invaded orbit, paranasal sinuses, and nasal cavity. The patient is the youngest person known to have had this tumor, and represents the first reported case in which mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva has extended beyond the orbit. This case emphasizes the importance of prompt and adequate primary treatment.