Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of parotid arises from

MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA It is slow-growing tumor but can invade the facial nerve. Histologically, there are areas of mucin-producing cells and the squamous cells, and hence the name. Greater the epidermoid element, more malignant is the behaviour of the tumour. The tumours have been fuher classified as low grade and high grade. Low-grade tumours have good prognosis. Low-grade tumours are more common in children. Low-grade tumours of the parotid are treated by super ficial or total parotidectomy, depending on the location of the tumour. Facial nerve is preserved. High-grade tumours being more aggressive are treated by total parotidectomy. Facial nerve may be sacrificed if invaded by the tumour. Some surgeons also combine radical neck dissection because of high incidence of microscopic spread of the tumour. Ref:- Dhingra; pg num:-235