POLYPOIDAL MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA OF SOFT PALATE: AN INCIDENTAL FINDING IN A CHILD

*Dr. Surekha Yadav, Sarika Singh, Nita Khurana and P. K. Rathore

ABSTRACT

Paedatric mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate is a rare tumour. The incidence of epithelial salivary gland tumours in children and adolescents is 3.7-5.5%. The malignant salivary gland neoplasm is found mostly in the parotid gland. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) comprises a mixture of three types of cells- intermediate type cells, mucus-producing cells, and epidermoid or squamous cells. MEC is a diagnostic challenge when it appears as asymptomatic swelling in minor salivary glands in the paediatric patient. This case report describes an unusual case of incidental palatal mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a young child who underwent biopsy for suspected papilloma.

Keywords: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, epidermoid.