From Volume 46, Issue 7, July 2019 | Pages 684-685
This case report demonstrates the management of a myoepithelioma in the minor salivary glands of the palate. Myoepitheliomas are rare, benign, salivary gland tumours which usually affect the parotid glands. The rare neoplasms only account for 1–1.5% of all salivary gland neoplasms. This case shows a minimal approach to treating this rare tumour found in a rare site.
Myoepitheliomas are rare, benign, salivary gland tumours which usually affect parotid glands and account for 1–1.5% of all salivary gland neoplasms.1 This case demonstrates how rapid epithelial recovery within the oral cavity and, despite the large resection site, excellent restoration of form and function can be achieved without the need for free flap reconstruction.
A 27 year-old male presented to the University Hospital of South Manchester maxillofacial department with a five year history of a large lump in the left palate. The patient reported that there was no noticeable change in size, no bad taste and no associated discharge or pain. This resulted in a late presentation as the patient was very relaxed about said ‘lump’. The patient was otherwise fit and healthy; a non smoker and only a social drinker.
When examined, the sessile lesion measured 31 x 23 x 20 mm and had a mixed consistency where some portions were fluctuant and some firm. As seen in Figure 1, the colour of the lesion also varied. No associated ulceration or mobility of associated teeth was found, with the patient reporting no nasal discharge, epistaxis or obstruction. Based upon these clinical findings, differential diagnoses were pleomorphic adenoma, a malignant salivary tumour (such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma) and other odontogenic causes, such as abscess or cyst.
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