PRIMARY INTRAOSSEOUS MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA OF MAXILLA - A RARE OCCURRENCE

Primary intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the jaw bones is an extremely rare malignant salivary gland tumour constituting 2-4.3% of all the reported mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC). It is commonly seen in the posterior part of the mandible and rare in maxilla. The aetiopathogenesis of the PIOC is not completely understood. We report a case of Primary intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the maxilla in a 18 year old male patient. An excisional biopsy was performed, and the histopathological features confirmed intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Maxillary MEC have a worse prognosis than mandibular lesions and it should be followed-up for a longer period due to the possibility of late recurrence or regional metastasis.