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Plasmacytoid myoepithelioma of the palate in a child
Danyel Elias da Cruz Perez1, Márcio Ajudarte Lopes, Oslei Paes de Almeida
1Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, of Piracicaba, UNICAMP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Background:
Myoepithelioma is a rare benign salivary gland tumour, localized most frequently in the parotid and in minor intraoral salivary glands. There have been only four cases of myoepithelioma in children and adolescents reported in the English-language literature, all of them involving the plasmacytoid variant.
Case Report:
A 13-year-old boy, complained of a painless nodule of the palate. Incisional biopsy was performed and revealed large plasmacytoid cells with a round and eccentric nuclei. The diagnosis was consistent with myoepithelioma, plasmocytoid variant. Tumour cells were positive for cytokeratins, vimentin and S-100 protein. Surgical resection was performed and no evidences of tumour recurrence were observed after 6 years of the treatment.
Conclusion:
Myoepithelioma is a very rare tumour in children and apparently presents a good prognosis, similar to occur in adult patients.
Insights
Plasmacytoid myoepithelioma is a rare salivary gland tumor in children. This case report details a 13-year-old boy with a palate tumor, showing a good prognosis after surgical resection.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Myoepithelioma is a rare benign salivary gland tumor.
- Primarily affects parotid and minor intraoral salivary glands.
- Only four pediatric cases of plasmacytoid variant reported globally.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old boy presented with a painless palatal nodule.
- Biopsy revealed plasmacytoid cells characteristic of myoepithelioma.
- Tumor cells expressed cytokeratins, vimentin, and S-100 protein.
Findings:
- Diagnosis confirmed as myoepithelioma, plasmacytoid variant.
- Surgical resection was curative.
- No recurrence observed after a 6-year follow-up.
Implications:
- Myoepithelioma is exceptionally rare in pediatric patients.
- Plasmacytoid variant in children appears to have a favorable prognosis.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are key for successful outcomes.
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