Head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma: a curious association with second primary malignancy.

ObjectiveWe noticed that a significant proportion of our patients with head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma (HNMEC) had second primary malignancies. To our knowledge, such an association has never been described. The aim of our study is to elucidate the association between second primary malignancies and HNMEC.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary referral center.Subjects and MethodsWe included all patients with histologically proven HNMEC managed in the Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, from January 2003 through December 2013. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.ResultsFifty-seven patients with HNMEC were identified. Fourteen (24.6%) had second primary malignancies. The commonest second primary malignancy was nasopharyngeal carcinoma, followed by carcinoma of the thyroid. Second primary malignancies developed before HNMEC in 7 patients, with a mean interval of 196 months. Five patients had second primary malignancies after development of HNMEC, with ...