Intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a common malignant tumor composed of mucinous cells, clear cells and squamoid tumor cells. It is usually localized on the salivary glands, however can very rarely be intraosseous. This tumor affects women more than men and is more common in the mandible. In this report, we present a case of a 45-year-old woman with a painless intraoral mass for 10 years which was repeatedly misdiagnosed, evolving into an extensive lesion. After an appropriate approach, she was diagnosed with MEC of the mandible and submitted to a left hemimandibulectomy accompanied by microsurgical reconstruction with excellent results.