Mucoepidermoid tumour of the parotid gland: a very difficult prognostic evaluation

The correct management of mucoepidermoid tumours is still debatable because of their unpredictable biological course. The issue discussed is that of identifying biological characteristics of these tumours which may have predictive value. Sixteen patients with a mucoepidermoid tumour of the parotid gland, treated at the ENT Clinic of Bologna University over a 15-year period, were reviewed. The follow-up of each patient has been related to the surgical management, in order to evaluate whether superficial parotidectomy provides adequate treatment. No prognostic differences were noted between total and superficial parotidectomy when the latter was clinically appropriate. The histopathological specimens from these patients were reviewed in an attempt to correlate the histological grade of tumour with the course of the disease. Our data suggest that histological evaluation of malignancy alone is insufficient for accurate prognosis. We think that the clinical presentation (facial nerve palsy, pain, etc.) predicts the prognosis with greater accuracy.