title: Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma radiographically mimicking an odontogenic tumor: A case report and literature review.
abstract: Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (CMC) of the jaw bones is a rare malignant salivary gland tumor of unknown pathogenesis, comprising about 4% of all mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs). Most cases are histologically classified as a low-grade tumor and radiographically appear as a well-defined unilocular or multilocular radiolucent lesion. Block resection or wide local excisions are the treatment of choice and patients usually show a good overall prognosis although a long-term follow-up is necessary. This report describes a case of a 28-year-old male with MEC in the posterior region of the mandible and discusses its clinical, radiographic and histopathological findings. Although rare, CMC may be considered a differential diagnosis in cases of proliferative and osteolytic lesions in the oral cavity even when its clinical and/or radiographic findings do not suggest malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leorik Pereira
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marianna Sampaio
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Serpa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Arthur Barbosa
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Veras
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sobral
keywords: Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Jaw bones; demographic profile