title: Nasopharyngeal mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A case report and review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salivary gland-type tumors originating in the nasopharynx are rare, and only a few articles about mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) in this location have been reported. We describe one case of nasopharyngeal MEC and, based on a review of the literature, discuss different therapeutic approaches that can be taken regarding the result of histological findings, radiological tests and extent of disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 47-year-old woman diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of nasopharynx, T1 N3 M0 (stage IV-B) was treated in 2007 with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to a maximum dose of 70 Gy and concomitant Cisplatin during the radiation. One year later, with the head and neck disease under control, mediastinal nodes relapse appeared which were treated with exclusive radiotherapy to a maximum dose of 65 Gy. One year after the first relapse, a second relapse was detected in the right lung, next to the previously treated mediastinal regions, and the patient initiated a treatment with exclusive chemotherapy based on TPF scheme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For limited or resectable MEC, combined surgery with radiotherapy, or radiochemotherapy, should be considered the main treatment policy. On the other hand, in poorly differentiated, unresectable tumors or nasopharyngeal MEC, radiochemotherapy could be currently the main treatment approach.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier Martínez
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ollero
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Asunción Hervás
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Morón
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel Montero
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luis
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Soraya Marcos
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea Abondano
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nazarewsky
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ma José Salgueiro
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, Km 9,100, C.P. 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfredo Ramos
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Aguerri
keywords: Chemotherapy; MEC; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Nasopharynx; Radiotherapy; Salivary gland tumor