title: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the base of tongue.
abstract: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant, locally-invasive tumour of the salivary glands, and accounts for approximately 35% of all malignancies of the major and minor salivary gland. Minor salivary glands are scattered in different areas of the oral cavity such as palate, retromolar area, floor of the mouth, buccal mucosa, lips and tongue. MECs of tongue base are not common. We present a rare case of MEC localised at the tongue base in a 42-year-old Caucasian woman and discuss the histopathological types, management and review the literature. Adequate intra-oral excision was the treatment of choice in this case and in low-grade MEC. Prognosis of MEC is a function of the histological grade, adequacy of excision and clinical staging.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesolella
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iengo
authors.affiliation: ENT Department Second University, Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy;
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: DI Lullo
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Salerno.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salzano
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Salerno.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Salzano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Intra-oral approach; Minor salivary glands; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Tongue base