Central Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Maxilla: A Case Report with Immunohistochemical Analysis

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC), which accounts for 3-4% of all cancers of the maxillofacial region, is the most common type of salivary carcinoma. It most commonly occurs in the major salivary glands. The palate, retromolar region, buccal mucosa, tongue, and lips are common sites for tumors arising in minor salivary glands. Central MEC (CMEC) is an infrequent neoplasm of the jaw bones, accounting for 2-4% of MECs and showing varied biological behaviour. The aetiology of this tumour is uncertain, but several concepts have been proposed based on neoplastic transformation of the odontogenic cyst epithelium or ectopic salivary tissue. Most of these lesions occur in the third to fifth decades with a female predilection and are common in the mandible but rare in the maxilla. Radiographically and clinically, CMEC is often misinterpreted as an odontogenic lesion. To confirm the diagnosis, identifying the origin with the aid of immunohistochemistry is crucial. Hereby, the authors present a rare instance of low-grade CMEC in the maxilla of a 51-year-old male patient, which posed a diagnostic challenge and is accompanied by a review of the literature.