Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Mimicking a Lesion of Endodontic Origin

Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx ranks eighth among the top 10 cancer sites in all United States males. Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are uncommon, and malignancies in SGT are even more uncommon than benign tumors. Intraoral minor SGTs are rare, and when they do occur, the tumor is often benign. The purpose of this report is to present a case of a malignant, intraoral minor SGT mimicking a lesion of endodontic origin. Histopathologic analysis determined the tumor to be a high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The patient was referred to oral and maxillofacial surgery where it was determined the patient would best be treated by partial maxillectomy. Recall examination at 5 years revealed no recurrent or new disease. Suspicious lesions require histopathological assessment.