ONCOCYTIC MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA OF THE PAROTID-GLAND

Oncocytic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland is rare. We d escribe a 60-year-old woman who presented with a slowly growing left p arotid mass. The patient underwent a total parotidectomy, and her post operative course was uneventful. The gland was enlarged and showed a p artially cystic mass containing clear mucoid material. Microscopically , the entire mass showed variably sized cysts lined predominantly with oncocytes and a few mucous goblet cells. Histochemical stains for mit ochondria, such as phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin, confirmed the pre sence of oncocytes. The recognition of this variant is important, sinc e most of the other primary oncocytic lesions of the salivary glands a re benign. The tumor in this case is considered to be a low-grade carc inoma; therefore, complete surgical excision and long-term clinical fo llow-up are adequate management.