All of the following are true abou Mucoepidermoid carcinoma except -
Invades the facial nerve
Greater the mucin - producing cells, more malignant is the behavior
Behave like benign tumors in major salivary glands
Facial nerve preservation can be considered in low grade tumors
Ans. is 'b' i.e.,Greater the mucin - producing cells, more malignant is the behaviour Mucoepidermoid carcinoma* Some pathologists do not consider it to be malignant and call it mucoepidermoid tumour and not cancer, but it is known to metastasize and kill.* Generally, it is slow-growing but can invade the facial nerve.* Histologically, there are areas of mucin-producing cells and the squamous cells, and hence the name. Greater the epidermoid element, more malignant is the behaviour of the tumour.* The tumours have been further classified as low grade and high grade. Low-grade tumours have good prognosis (90%, 5 years survival rate), high-grade tumours are more aggressive and have poor prognosis (30%, 5 years survival rate).* Low-grade tumours are more common in children.* Behaviour of mucoepidermoid tumours of minor salivary glands is more aggressive and akin to adenoid cystic carcinoma, but in the major salivary glands they behave like pleomorphic adenoma.* Low-grade tumours of the parotid are treated by superficial or total parotidectomy, depending on the location of the tumour. Facial nerve is preserved.* High-grade tumours being more aggressive are treated by total parotidectomy. Facial nerve may be sacrificed if invaded by the tumour.* Some surgeons also combine radical neck dissection because of high incidence of microscopic spread of the tumour.
Tumors