Mucoepidermoid carcinoma history and symptoms

The hallmark symptom of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is painless swelling. A positive history of occupational exposure (rubber products manufacturing) may be suggestive of mucoepidermoid carcinoma tumor. Symptoms related with mucoepidermoid carcinoma will vary depending on the size and location of the tumor. Common symptoms of mucoepidermoid carcinoma may include facial numbness, adjacent muscle soreness, mandible claudication, otorrhea, dysphagia, and trismus.

Many lesions may present as: ^[1][2]

Usually the presenting complaint of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is an asymptomatic swelling in the floor of the mouth, causing some degree of discomfort.

• A bluish or red purple, fluctuant, smooth surfaced mass that is often clinically mistaken as mucocele.
• The palate was the most common site for minor salivary gland involvement, which accounts for 41.1%
• In other cases the tumour may be incidentally discovered by a dentist.^[3]

• Mucoepidermoid carcinoma most frequently arise in the parotid gland, with or without facial nerve involvement.
• These tumours can however be found anywhere there are salivary glands.
• Overall distribution across various glands is as:
  • Major salivary glands : 50%
  • Parotid gland: 40%
  • Submandibular gland 7%
  • Sublingual gland 3%
  • Minor salivary glands 50%
• Palate
  • Retromolar area
  • Floor of the mouth
  • Buccal mucosa
  • Lip
  • Tongue
  • Anywhere in the proximal aerodigestive tract
  • The lacrimal glands
  • Someimes in the bronchi.
• Obtaining a complete and detailed history is an important aspect of diagnosing mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Specific areas of focus when obtaining the history include:

• Symptoms: duration, onset, and progression
• Previous exposure to risk factors such as: rubber products manufacturing and asbestos mining
• Ionizing radiation

• The majority of mucoepidermoid carcinomas are asymptomatic and are usually found incidentally.^[4]
• Neurological signs, such as numbness or weakness caused by nerve involvement.
• The hallmark of mucoepidermoid carcinomas is a painless growing swelling.
• Other symptoms of mucoepidermoid carcinoma may include:

• Pain
• Trouble with dental prosthesis retention
• Tongue numbness

• Adjacent muscle soreness
• Dysphagia
• Trismus
• Tinnitus
• Pain during mastication
• Facial numbness
• Mandible claudication