Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate in a patient with a history of neuroblastoma: A case report and a review of the literature

Clin Case Rep. 2023 Sep 8;11(9):e7898. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.7898. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Secondary neoplasms were reported as one of the complicated complications of childhood cancer treatment. Salivary gland carcinoma is rare, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most prevalent subtype. Secondary neoplasms following neuroblastoma are not often described due to poor long-term survival. The exact cause of these tumors in children, and adults is not clearly known, but they are often observed after head, and neck radiotherapy and mainly involve main salivary glands, especially the parotid. Hence, we report a case of MEC with telangiectasia in the salivary glands of a 20-year-old girl with complaint of a palatal swelling who was treated with chemotherapy (etoposide, G-CSF, cyclophosphamide) without radiotherapy since childhood (18 months) in terms of neuroblastoma. Based on our knowledge, only three cases of MEC following neuroblastoma have been reported before, all of which involved the major salivary glands. Survivors of primary neoplasms who were treated are at risk of secondary malignant neoplasms, which usually occur at a long interval from the primary neoplasm (5-15 years), which necessitates long and close follow-up.

Keywords: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; carcinoma; neuroblastomas; salivary gland cancers; salivary gland neoplasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports