Mucoepidermoid tumors of the intraoral minor salivary glands: A clinicopathologic study of 54 cases

Clinical, gross and microscopic features of 54 mucoepidermoid tumors of intraoral minor salivary glands were studied. Thirty‐four were further analyzed with regard to treatment and survival. Females predominated 2:1. The most common locations were palate, mandibular retromolar area and buccal mucosa. Mean duration was approximately 1 year, and most were asymptomatic. Fifty tumors were well‐differentiated; four were poorly‐differentiated. Growth pattern was generally infiltrative. Treatment was surgical in all cases. Mean follow‐up duration was 47.1 months. Three well‐differentiated tumors recurred once. One poorly‐differentiated tumor recurred three times. No metastases or deaths occurred. Narrow or involved margins were common to recurrent but also to many non‐recurrent tumors. Well‐differentiated tumors behaved benignly and are best treated by modest local excision. Jaw resection is generally unnecessary. The practice of considering all mucoepidermoid tumors to be malignant is challenged.