title: Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the anterior region of the mandible: report of an unusual case and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare lesion, whose exact pathogenesis is still not fully understood. Generally, it is more frequently encountered in the mandible than in the maxilla and in the posterior than in the anterior aspect of the jaws. Cases of central mucoepidermoid carcinomas are rarely mentioned in the literature, and therefore, additional information concerning this type of lesion is needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present paper, we report an extremely unusual case of a central mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the anterior region of the mandible of a 37-year-old female patient. The diagnosis and the surgical management of the tumor along with the reconstructive techniques utilized to restore the mandible and a 6-year follow-up are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma is an unusual tumor of the jaws, especially in the anterior region. It is only locally aggressive and has most frequently a good prognosis if treated with wide surgical excision.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinic St. Loukas, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kechagias
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntomouchtsis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavrodi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christoforidou
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsekos
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vahtsevanos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed