Head and Neck ImagingMucoepidermoid carcinoma
salivary gland
neoplasm apparently arising from the ducts of major and minor salivary glands. The
parotid gland is commonly involved, but the incidence is highest in the palate. It occurs at all ages, and is the most frequent
malignant salivary gland
tumour in children. Mucoepidermoid
carcinoma is often classified as low grade, intermediate grade or high grade. Low grade tumours behave in a way not dissimilar to
pleomorphic adenoma: they grow slowly, recur rather frequently, and may rarely metastasize. High grade mucoepidermoid
carcinoma displays an aggressive clinical course, with a high rate of local recurrences and distant metastases. The imaging characteristics of these tumours are nonspecific. Low grade tumours are well demarcated lesions and may show
cystic areas or appear
cystic (
Fig.1), while high grade tumours appear as more solid lesions, with
infiltration of surrounding structures.
RH
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Axial contrast-enhanced CT image. Cystic lesion in the lower pole of the left parotid gland; the cyst wall appears largely regular, but focally some thickening and more pronounced enhancement is visible (arrowhead).
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Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, Fig.1 | |