title: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate in adolescence.
abstract: Although relatively rare, minor salivary gland tumors are more likely to be malignant in pediatric patients than in adults. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) represents the most common malignant tumor of the salivary glands. It is critical to differentiate such tumors from common benign salivary gland lesions. The purposes of this report are to present the case of a 15-year-old female with MEC of the palate, and to discuss the importance of a thorough intraoral examination on all patients regardless of age, as well as the need for timely referral for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric dentist and orthodontist in private practice, Ardmore, Pa.; Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.
authors.forename: Patti L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Werther
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.
authors.forename: Faizan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alawi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA. lindemey@dental.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Rochelle G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lindemeyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed