Clinicopathological Profile and Outcomes of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in Sudan: Analysis of 48 Cases

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a prevalent form of salivary gland cancer that affects the head and neck. The condition presents with various symptoms. Histologically, it is classified into grades based on the types of cells and their level of invasion. Surgical intervention is the primary treatment approach with an excellent prognosis.

This study is a descriptive retrospective cohort hospital-based investigation that aims to examine clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes, including a 5-year survival rate. It utilizes patient records from 2010 to 2021 obtained from the Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital and the Oral Pathology Lab of the University of Khartoum.

In this study, a total of 48 patients were included. The primary symptom reported by the patients was swelling in 20 (41%) individuals. The most common histological classification was low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma in 41 (85.4%) patients. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma predominantly affected minor salivary glands, with the buccal mucosa being the most common site in 16 (33.3%) patients. The most commonly performed type of resection was soft tissue resection in 39 (81.3%) cases. Selective supraomohyoid neck dissection was performed in 45 (93.8%) patients. Regarding the treatment outcomes, 43 patients (89.6%) had negative pathological margins, 43 patients did not experience recurrence, and the overall survival rate was 64.6%.

The study investigated mucoepidermoid carcinoma and found that the majority of patients had low-grade tumors. Soft tissue resection was the most common surgical procedure performed. The overall 5-year survival rate was 64.6%.