Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate – a case report

Abstract

Although little frequent, the mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasia of salivary gland, attacking larger glands as well as the smaller ones. The present study aimed to give value to the dental surgeon’s importance in the precocious diagnosis of this lesion, based on a case of a 42 years old melanoderma woman. The patient came to the consultation, complaining about a nodular lesion in hard palate, relating its appearance with exodontics, closed to the area, one year ago. The physical exam evidenced superficial nodule of clear limits with approximately 2.5 cm of diameter in the hard palate, in the area of the absent first left molar. At the radiographic exam, bone alteration was not observed in that area. Incisional biopsy was made, being defined the diagnosis by the light microscopy; the patient was then directed to the oncology service, that opted for surgical therapeutics. In the two year-old postoperative control, it was observed that the patient was in good conditions of health, without signs of recurrence or new primary tumor. This way, it was noticed that the surgical treatment was effective in the resolution of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma now presented. Key words: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Diagnosis. Salivary gland neoplasm. Mouth neoplasms.