Abstract
Answer D. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
This is the most common type of salivary gland cancer. Over 90% of them occur in the parotid gland and they account for approximately 30% of malignant parotid tumours. Male and females are affected equally, with the highest incidence found in the third to fifth decades of life. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is composed of mucous-secreting cells, intermediate cells and epidermoid squamous cells. They are classified as high-grade, intermediate or low-grade, depending on the ratio of epidermoid cells to mucous cells. High-grade tumours are associated with male sex, older age, larger size and local spread, and higher rates of nodal and distant metastasis. Prognosis depends on the grade of the tumour, but overall, it is generally favourable with a reported 5-year survival rate of 79%.
InnovAiT article: Parotid tumours. DOI: 10.1177/17557380211016023.