Mucoepidermoid carcinoma mimicking a mucocele (ranula) in the floor of the mouth

Saulo L Sousa Melo; Emily Lanzel; Nitin A Pagedar; Daniah Alhazmi; Laila Dahmoush; Bruno A Policeni; Marcia S Campos

doi:10.1259/dmfr.20170331

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Mucoepidermoid carcinoma mimicking a mucocele (ranula) in the floor of the mouth

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma mimicking a mucocele (ranula) in the floor of the mouth

Saulo L Sousa Melo, Emily Lanzel, Nitin A Pagedar, Daniah Alhazmi, Laila Dahmoush, Bruno A Policeni and Marcia S Campos

Dento-maxillo-facial radiology, Vol.47(4), pp.20170331-20170331

05/2018

DOI: 10.1259/dmfr.20170331

PMCID: PMC5991757

PMID: 29231036

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Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common salivary gland malignancy. The submandibular gland is rarely involved, about less than 10% of all other major salivary glands. We report a case of a 49-year-old female who presented with a mass on the left side of the floor of the mouth. She was complaining of neck pain for the last 2-3 days and had noticed the mass growing in size and becoming tender to palpation. There was no exacerbation of pain during eating, drinking, or opening of mouth. A multidetector CT scan was made. The radiographic examination revealed a mostly well-defined hypodense area suggestive of mucocele (ranula), which was thought to be corroborated by the clinical findings. The treatment of choice was the complete excision of the mucocele and the left submandibular salivary gland. The histopathological examination surprisingly revealed a low-grade MEC. No further treatment was recommended; however, a follow up was scheduled in 4 months. This atypical location of MEC in the floor of the mouth simulated the clinical and radiographic features of a mucocele. This case highlights the value and importance of using all the available diagnostic tools and modalities for optimal patient management, as the histopathological analysis played an important role to confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnosis, Differential

Humans

Middle Aged

Ranula - diagnostic imaging

Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - surgery

Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - pathology

Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography

Biopsy, Fine-Needle

Salivary Gland Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging

Female

Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - diagnostic imaging

Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology

Salivary Gland Neoplasms - surgery

Details

Title: Subtitle: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma mimicking a mucocele (ranula) in the floor of the mouth
Creators: Saulo L Sousa Melo - 1 Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine,College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Emily Lanzel - 1 Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine,College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Nitin A Pagedar - 2 Department of Otolaryngology,Caver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Daniah Alhazmi - 1 Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine,College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Laila Dahmoush - 3 Department of Pathology,Caver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Bruno A Policeni - 4 Department of Radiology,Caver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Marcia S Campos - 1 Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine,College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Dento-maxillo-facial radiology, Vol.47(4), pp.20170331-20170331
DOI: 10.1259/dmfr.20170331
PMID: 29231036
PMCID: PMC5991757
NLM abbreviation: Dentomaxillofac Radiol
ISSN: 0250-832X
eISSN: 1476-542X
Publisher: England
Grant note: P30 CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 05/2018
Academic Unit: Radiology; Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; Pathology; Urology; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984047751802771

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