Clinicopathological aspects, diagnosis, and treatment of mucoepidermoid carcinoma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5335/rfo.v30i1.16698Keywords:
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, Salivary gland tumors, Salivary glandsAbstract
Introduction: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland neoplasm, with histological and biological heterogeneity. It can arise in any salivary gland and affects patients of various ages. Although it shows a good response to early treatment, its molecular biology and prognostic factors are still under study. Objective: This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the clinicopathological aspects, diagnosis, and treatment of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Materials and Methods: A search was conducted for scientific articles in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), US National Library of Medicine (PubMed), and ScienceDirect databases. Studies published between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed. The selection included English-language articles using the keywords "mucoepidermoid carcinoma", "mucoepidermoid carcinoma salivary glands," and "MEC tumor salivary glands". Conclusion: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma shows great clinical and prognostic variability. In general, low-grade cases have an indolent behavior, while high-grade forms can be aggressive, with a risk of metastases and recurrence. Diagnosis is made through clinical evaluation, imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Treatment is mainly surgical, with the possibility of lymphadenectomy and radiotherapy in higher-risk cases.
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