Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy
The mucoepidermoid tumour arises from the duct cells and is the most common salivary gland malignancy, accounting for about one third of such tumours. Any age may be affected; they constitute the commonest salivary gland tumours of childhood.
About 60-70% occur in the parotids, 15-20% in the minor salivary glands, and 10% in the submaxillary glands.
Macroscopically, mucoepidermoid tumours are firm, encapsulated and greyish red. Microscopically, squamous and glandular elements indicate a ductal epithelium origin; diffuse infiltration with mucin indicates a high grade tumour.
They are slowly growing with a tendency to local recurrence, but regional lymph node spread occurs in 30% of cases, and distant metastases in 15%.
After treatment by excision, low grade forms have an excellent prognosis with survival rates at 5 years of about 90%; for high grade forms, 5 year survival falls to 30%. Radiotherapy may be used as an adjunct for high grade lesions.
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