Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tongue

Leong SCL, Pinder E, Sasae R, Mortimore S
Correspondence: Mr SCL Leong, lcheel@doctors.org.uk

ABSTRACT
We report a 27-year-old Congolese man with mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the tongue base, which presented as spontaneous intraoral bleeding. Optimal treatment of tongue base MEC is unknown. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case treated with transoral excision with carbon dioxide laser and selective neck dissection. Although immunohistochemical studies have revolutionised understanding of the disease, little else is known of the natural history of MEC. The majority of MEC is considered low-grade, with an indolent course without recurrence or metastasis. Nonetheless, MEC requires surgical management , postoperative radiotherapy and close long-term follow-up.

Keywords: carbon dioxide laser, minor salivary gland tumour, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, salivary gland, tongue tumour
Singapore Med J 2007; 48(10): e272–e274