Nasal Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma after Radiotherapy: Case Report
Arq. bras. neurocir; 41 (1), 2022
Publication year: 2022
Introduction Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a tumor originated from the
epitheliumof the glandular excretory ducts and has highly variable biological potential.
It is the most prevalent cancer of the salivary glands. The present report aims to
describe a case of nasal mucoepidermoid carcinoma that developed after adjuvant
radiotherapy (RT) treatment of a recurrent pituitary macroadenoma.
Case Report Male patient, 62 years old, presented with recurrent nasal epistaxis on
the right, associated with intense pulsatile headache, visual analogical scale (VAS)
10/10, with improvement only with the use of opioids andmorphine. After undergoing
oncological screening and study by imaging exams, the presence of an expansive seal
lesion with suprasellar extension was seen, involving the medial wall of the cavernous
segment of the right carotid artery and the anterior cerebral artery, as well as the
presence of a new expansive lesion in the right nasal cavity, with ethmoid bone invasion
superiorly and medial orbit wall invasion laterally, compressing the ipsilateral optic
nerve canal.
Discussion Sinonasal neoplasms represent a small portion of all malignancies of the
upper aerodigestive tract, accounting for<5% of these neoplasms. The development of MEC involves risk factors such as occupational issues, history of trauma and surgery
involving the nasal area, and radiation exposure, as in previous RT.
Conclusion Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasia and can be
associated with RT treatment, as used in cases of recurrent pituitary macroadenoma.
In general, surgical resection to obtain free margins of neoplastic tissue is the aimed
treatment, seeking better prognosis.