What is high grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma?

High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas show a predominance of solid areas composed of intermingled squamoid and intermediate cells. In addition, they are characterized by increased nuclear pleomorphism, high mitotic counts, and areas of necrosis and hemorrhage.

What are intermediate cells in mucoepidermoid carcinoma?

The intermediate cells frequently predominate; their appearance ranges from small basal cells with scanty basophilic cytoplasm to larger and more oval cells with more abundant pale eosinophilic cytoplasm that appears to merge into epidermoid or mucous cells.

What is mucoepidermoid carcinoma?

Mucoepidermoid carcinomas are the most common type of salivary gland cancer. Most start in the parotid glands. They develop less often in the submandibular glands or in minor salivary glands inside the mouth. These cancers are usually low grade, but can sometimes be intermediate or high grade.

Which cells are predominantly present in low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma?

MEC is usually composed of a mixture of predominantly epidermoid (squamoid) cells, abundant intermediate cells ranging from small basal cells with basophilic cytoplasm to larger cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, and mucous cells which have a positive PAS reaction by staining with mucicarmine or Alcian blue [13].

Is Mucoepidermoid carcinoma aggressive?

Background Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of salivary glands is a malignant, locally aggressive neoplasm with metastatic potential. The clinical course is usually dependent on histology; however, low-grade carcinomas can result in metastases and tumor-related death.

Is Mucoepidermoid carcinoma malignant?

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is malignant, locallyinvasive tumour of the salivary glands 1. It accounts for approximately 35% of all malignancies of the major and minor salivary glands, especially in the parotid gland 1 2. MECs can also occur in the submandibular and minor salivary glands 3.

How is Mucoepidermoid carcinoma diagnosed?

Abstract. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is an increasingly popular method for the evaluation of salivary gland tumors. Of the common salivary gland tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma is probably the most difficult to diagnose accurately by this means.

How is mucoepidermoid carcinoma diagnosed?

What is the treatment of mucoepidermoid carcinoma?

Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for all grades of MEC. Local resection of the cancer is considered sufficient treatment for low-grade tumors. High-grade tumors are generally treated with surgical excision with wide margins followed by postoperative radiotherapy.

Does Mucoepidermoid carcinoma metastasize?

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma can be a low, intermediate or high-grade malignancy and can metastasize to different parts of the body.

Can mucoepidermoid tumor be benign?

MUCOEPIDERMOID TUMOUR is benign or of low-grade malignancy. The mucoepidermoid tumour consists of large pale mucus-secreting cells (hence ‘muco’) surrounded by squamous epithelial cells (hence ‘epidermoid’) (Fig. 49.6).